Cathay orders 11 more A330neos at a $5.1 billion list price, but they won't arrive until 2031
Cathay used purchase rights for 11 A330-900s and three A321neos on Nov. 11, a month after declining to comment on order reports.
In October, Cathay Pacific would not comment on reports that it was about to buy more planes. On Nov. 11, it did. The Cathay Group said it has ordered 14 more Airbus jets: 11 A330-900 widebodies and three A321neo narrowbodies, according to Cathay's announcement and Airbus's release.
The A330-900s alone carry a list price of $5.1 billion, Cathay said in a stock exchange filing, AFP reported. Cathay also said Airbus gave it "significant price concessions," so it will pay less than that. The catch for travelers is timing. AFP reported that the filing puts those 11 deliveries between 2031 and 2035.
What Cathay ordered, and for which airline#
Cathay did this by exercising purchase rights it already held, rather than placing a brand-new deal. Here is the breakdown from the two releases:
| Aircraft | New order | Earlier order | Who flies it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A330-900 | 11 | 30 (2024) | Cathay Pacific |
| A321neo / A320neo | 3 | 32 (2023) | HK Express |
That takes Cathay's firm commitment for the A330-900 to 41 aircraft, Airbus says. The three new A321neos add to the 32 A321neo and A320neo jets ordered in 2023.
Show the numbers
| Order | 2024 order | Nov. 2026 order |
|---|---|---|
| A330-900 total | 30 | 11 |
Cathay says the A330-900s will grow Cathay Pacific's regional network and add passenger and cargo space. The A321neos go to HK Express, its low-cost arm, which focuses on the Chinese mainland and other short-haul routes.
What it means for passengers#
Do not expect these jets soon. If AFP's reading of the filing is right, the new A330-900s start arriving in 2031, five years from now. According to AFP, the filing says they will "progressively replace" Cathay's current mid-size widebodies and mainly serve regional routes in Asia. Later, they could also fly longer routes.
That fits what Airbus says about the plane. The A330neo can fly up to 8,100 nautical miles nonstop, according to Airbus, and burns 25% less fuel than older rival jets. It uses Airbus's Airspace cabin.
What the releases do not say matters too. Neither Cathay nor Airbus describes the seats, the business class product or the routes for the new A330-900s. Cathay has not said which cities they will serve first.
Cathay Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer Alex McGowan said the jets offer "greater flexibility to operate longer flights," in the Airbus release.
The bigger number: 120 new planes since 2026#
The order is small next to Cathay's full plan. CEO Ronald Lam said the new jets bring Cathay's total aircraft deliveries from 2026 to 120. Cathay's goal is 150 new aircraft and a network of 150 destinations within 10 years, as long as market conditions allow, Lam said.
He also said Cathay has now committed more than HK$150 billion in investment for 2026 through 2035. Cathay lists the planes arriving from 2026 as A321neos, A320neos, A330-900s, Boeing 777-9s, A350 freighters and A330 freighters.
- Cathay orders 32 A321neo and A320neo jets
- Cathay orders 30 A330-900s
- Bloomberg reports talks on up to 50 more widebodies
- Cathay orders 11 more A330-900s and three A321neos
- First of the 11 new A330-900s due, per AFP
- Last of the 11 due, per AFP
Source: Lounge Frog's October report, Cathay, AFP via Malay Mail
The rumor, then the order#
In October, we wrote about a Bloomberg report that Cathay wanted up to 50 more widebodies. The same report said Cathay was close to decisions on options and purchase rights it already held, possibly as soon as November. At the time, Cathay said it reviews its fleet needs on an ongoing basis and does not comment on market rumors.
This order lines up with the second part of that report. Cathay used purchase rights, and the timing landed in November. The larger widebody talks Bloomberg described are a separate matter, and Cathay has not announced anything on that front.
Here is the argument for why this order matters more than its size. Airlines are struggling to get planes delivered on time. Cathay is buying jets for the early 2030s now because delivery slots are scarce. A five-year wait for an aircraft that already exists shows how tight the market is.
Where to wait in Hong Kong today#
For now, Cathay's regional flights still use today's fleet from Hong Kong International Airport. If you fly Cathay business class or hold oneworld status, Cathay's lounges at HKG are part of the trip. Our Cathay airline page lists its lounges and network. Cathay's redesigned The Wing, First was also named the world's best first-class lounge by Skytrax this year.
Cite this article
Patrick Karsh. “Cathay orders 11 more A330neos at a $5.1 billion list price, but they won't arrive until 2031.” Lounge Frog. Published 2026-11-11. https://www.loungefrog.com/news/cathay-orders-11-a330-900-3-a321neo-5-1-billion-list-2031-deliveries
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