Cathay Cargo
Cathay Cargo is the air freight division of Cathay Pacific Airways, operating 20 dedicated Boeing 747 freighters and integrated terminal infrastructure from Hong Kong International Airport. It serves global freight forwarders and enterprises with specialized solutions for pharmaceuticals, live animals, dangerous goods, e-commerce, and oversized cargo.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1946
- HeadquartersLantau, Hong Kong SAR China
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cathay Cargo does
Cathay Cargo is the air cargo division of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (0293.HK), headquartered at Hong Kong International Airport and operating continuously since 1946. The carrier runs 20 dedicated Boeing 747 freighters (six 747-400ERFs and 14 747-8Fs) across 40+ destinations and supplements maindeck capacity with belly hold on Cathay Group's 231 passenger aircraft serving approximately 100 destinations. Cathay Cargo monetizes per-shipment freight transportation across six specialized product verticals: Cathay Pharma (IATA CEIV Pharma), Cathay Live Animal (first carrier in Asia with IATA CEIV Live Animals), Cathay Dangerous Goods (all nine IATA classes with CEIV Lithium Batteries), Cathay Courier, Cathay Expert (oversized and special cargo), and general freight services for forwarders. In 2024 the business carried 1.5 million tonnes of cargo.
The technology stack centers on the IATA ONE Record data protocol, in which Cathay Cargo became the first airline to operate live with freight forwarders (achieved February 2025, one year ahead of IATA's January 2026 target). Supporting platforms include Ultra Track for multi-dimensional real-time shipment visibility, Manage Booking for self-service post-booking modifications, Click & Ship for online booking, and EzyCargo for forwarder-side transactions. Vertical integration is provided through the wholly-owned Cathay Cargo Terminal (2.6 million tonnes annual throughput, including a Pharma Handling Centre processing ~235,000 tonnes per year) and Air Hong Kong, which operates 14 A330 freighters for DHL Express across 20 Asian cities. The customer base spans global freight forwarders (DHL, Kuehne+Nagel, DSV, Sinotrans, Hellmann), government accounts (Australian Government vaccine logistics), and specialized shippers (Hong Kong Jockey Club for racehorses).
Revenue mechanics are transaction-based: quotes are issued per shipment on weight, volume, and service tier, with a liberalized Hong Kong cargo fuel surcharge effective January 2025. Distribution combines digital self-service channels (cathaycargo.com, EzyCargo, Manage Booking), enterprise sales teams, the exclusive Linex GSA for Cathay Courier, and freight forwarder partnerships. Recent strategic signals include an 11% year-on-year tonnage uplift in India as of October 2025, a 5% year-on-year volume increase to 137,143 tonnes in January 2026, an expanded A350F freighter order to eight aircraft (May 2026), and a 180% increase in Corporate SAF Programme commitments across 17 partners.
Cathay Cargo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cathay Cargo
- Legal name
- Cathay Pacific Airways Limited
- Website
- https://cathaycargo.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1946
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Cathay Cargo is the air freight division of Cathay Pacific Airways, operating 20 dedicated Boeing 747 freighters and integrated terminal infrastructure from Hong Kong International Airport. It serves global freight forwarders and enterprises with specialized solutions for pharmaceuticals, live animals, dangerous goods, e-commerce, and oversized cargo.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cathay Cargo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Air Cargo Services
- NAICS
- Air Transportation (481), Scheduled Freight Air Transportation (481112), Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (481212), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)
- SIC
- Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512), Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522), Air Courier Services (4513)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Scheduled Air Cargo Airlines (All-Cargo Carriers) (THABAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Belly-Cargo Operators (Passenger Airline Freight Divisions) (THABAEAE), Specialty Cargo Operators (Live Animals, Perishables, Pharma) (THABAEAF), Air Cargo Capacity Providers (Belly Cargo Operators) (TLADAAAO), Live Animals & Perishables Air Cargo Carriers (TLADAAAI), Battery & Energy Storage Cargo Forwarding (Lithium Batteries) (TLACAJAJ), Oversized/Out-of-Gauge Specialized Cargo Forwarding (OOG) (TLACAJAG), High-Value & Secure Air Cargo (Valuables, Security Screening, Escort) (TLACAAAH)
Keywords
Where Cathay Cargo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lantau
- HQ country
- Hong Kong SAR China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cathay Cargo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Air Cargo Freight Services: Cathay Cargo generates revenue primarily through air freight transportation services, charging for cargo carriage on dedicated freighter aircraft and belly capacity of passenger flights. Revenue is based on weight, volume, and service level requirements.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Cathay Cargo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cathay Cargo operates air freight transportation services for specialized cargo segments including temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, live animals, dangerous goods, oversized/fragile cargo, and time-sensitive courier/e-commerce parcels, using 20 dedicated Boeing 747 freighters plus belly capacity across Cathay Group's 231-aircraft passenger network. The company provides IATA CEIV-certified handling for pharma, live animals, fresh goods, and lithium batteries, supported by digital platforms for booking, tracking, and post-booking modifications.
Product overview
Cathay Cargo is a Hong Kong-based air freight operator offering a portfolio of specialized cargo solutions across five core product lines: Cathay Dangerous Goods (all nine DG classes including lithium batteries with IATA CEIV Lithium Batteries accreditation), Cathay Live Animal (IATA CEIV Live Animals accredited animal logistics), Cathay Courier (express courier for time-sensitive parcels and e-commerce), Cathay Pharma (IATA CEIV Pharma certified temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical logistics), and Cathay Expert (customized handling for oversized and special cargo). These core products are supported by digital tools including Click & Ship (online booking), Track and Trace (real-time tracking), and the Manage Booking platform (post-booking modification self-service). Add-on services include Cool Containers (temperature-controlled packaging from six suppliers covering -80°C to +40°C), Ultra Track (multi-dimensional visibility via IATA ONE Record APIs), Cathay Priority (expedited handling), and SAF Solutions (sustainable aviation fuel contribution tools). Cathay Cargo operates 20 Boeing 747 freighters (six 747-400ERFs and 14 747-8Fs) serving 40+ destinations, leveraging the belly capacity of Cathay Pacific and HK Express (231 aircraft to ~100 destinations), with a dedicated Pharma Handling Centre at HKIA capable of processing ~235,000 tonnes of pharmaceuticals annually.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cathay Pharma: Healthcare logistics solution for temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical shipments with IATA CEIV Pharma certification, offering four temperature ranges (FRO, COL, CRT, ERT) and 70+ qualified pharma stations across the network.
- Cathay Live Animal
- Cathay Courier
- Cathay Expert
- Cathay Dangerous Goods
- Ultra Track
- Cathay Priority
- Click and Ship
- Manage Booking
Products and services
- Cathay Pharma Healthcare logistics solution for temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical shipments. IATA CEIV Pharma certified across onboard aircraft, Cathay Cargo Terminal, and ground handling. Offers four temperature ranges (FRO below 0°C, COL +2°C to +8°C, CRT +15°C to +25°C, ERT +2°C to +25°C), 70+ qualified pharma stations, priority tarmac handling, and 24/7 monitoring. Designed for pharmaceutical manufacturers, vaccine distributors, and clinical trial sponsors requiring unbroken cool chain.
- Cathay Live Animal Animal logistics solution transporting live animals including livestock, exotic species, racehorses, and pets, with IATA CEIV Live Animals accreditation as the first carrier in Asia to achieve this certification. Features temperature-controlled animal facilities, horse handling platforms, and welfare-first protocols throughout the journey. Designed for racehorse owners, livestock breeders, exotic animal handlers, and zoological institutions.
- Cathay Courier Express courier service for time-sensitive small parcels, high-value e-commerce, personal effects, and documents, offering airport-to-airport or first-and-last-mile collection and delivery. Features guaranteed capacity, individual customs clearance, piece-level tracking, late acceptance (90 minutes) and early release (90 minutes from touchdown). Delivered via partnership with Linex as exclusive general sales agent. Designed for e-commerce platforms and time-critical small parcel shippers.
- Cathay Dangerous Goods Hazmat logistics solution accepting all nine classes of dangerous goods, including Class 1-9 materials and lithium batteries, with IATA CEIV Lithium Batteries accreditation. Features fire-resistant containers, fire containment bags, segregated storage facilities, and certified expertise through every stage of transport. Designed for manufacturers, distributors, and shippers of hazardous materials.
- Cathay Expert Customized freight service for oversized, overweight, fragile, and special cargo including helicopters, oil drilling equipment, and precision machinery. Provides bespoke shipment planning, in-person consultation, loading supervision, and personalized logistical support from storage through transportation and delivery. Designed for industrial manufacturers, automotive companies, marine equipment suppliers, and engineering firms.
- Click & Ship Online booking platform enabling freight forwarders to book cargo shipments through the Cathay Cargo website and EzyCargo system.
- Track and Trace Real-time shipment tracking and tracing service allowing customers to track shipments by Air Waybill number, supporting up to 5 AWB numbers with copy-and-paste functionality.
- Manage Booking Self-service digital platform allowing freight forwarders to make post-booking changes via the website and EzyCargo system, featuring real-time visibility, 'preview before you commit' functionality for assessing schedule or pricing impacts, and end-to-end tracking with full booking modification history.
- Ultra Track Multi-dimensional shipment visibility and track-and-trace solution integrated via IATA ONE Record-standard APIs, providing 24/7 monitoring by the Operations Control Centre with proactive intervention to prevent temperature excursions. Offers proactive intervention capability.
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Solutions SAF contribution solutions including the SAF Self-Service Portal for voluntary SAF attribute purchases and the Corporate SAF Programme for customers to purchase SAF attributes aligned with specific business sustainability commitments. Since 2022, Cathay has been working with cargo partners to advance SAF adoption across its network.
Quantifiable outcome
- First airline carrier to achieve IATA ONE Record standard implementation one year ahead of January 2026 target date
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cathay Cargo
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Cathay Cargo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
Cathay Cargo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- CargoLand by LGGmajorCargoLand by LGG partnered with Cathay Cargo to successfully transport high-value competition horses from Europe to Hong Kong for international jumping events, utilizing LGG's purpose-built Horse Inn facility at Liege Airport with climate-controlled stalls for up to 54 horses.
- Peden BloodstockmajorEquine logistics specialist that cooperated with Cathay Cargo and CargoLand by LGG for transporting competition horses from Europe to Hong Kong, ensuring welfare-first approach and operational precision for time-critical long-haul charters.
- Sinotrans Hong Kong Air Transportation DevelopmentmajorFirst Hong Kong freight forwarder to join Cathay Cargo's IATA ONE Record platform in January 2025, exchanging electronic air waybill and shipment status information via APIs designed to ONE Record protocols.
- Sinotrans Air FreightmajorOne of three mainland China freight forwarders that began exchanging electronic air waybill and shipment status information with Cathay Cargo via ONE Record APIs in December 2024.
- WECAN International Freight Forwarding International LogisticsmajorOne of three mainland China freight forwarders that began exchanging electronic air waybill and shipment status information with Cathay Cargo via ONE Record APIs in December 2024.
- ALL-LINK LogisticsmajorOne of three mainland China freight forwarders that began exchanging electronic air waybill and shipment status information with Cathay Cargo via ONE Record APIs in December 2024.
- LinexcoreLinex serves as Cathay Cargo's exclusive general sales agent for Cathay Courier services, providing comprehensive door-to-door logistics solutions for e-commerce customers. The partnership leverages Cathay Pacific's line-haul capability combined with Linex's global clearance and delivery solutions.
- Air Hong KongcoreAir Hong Kong operates express cargo services for DHL Express and operates an all-A330F fleet of 14 aircraft (10 A330-300P2F and 4 A330-200F freighters). As of June 2025, serves 20 major Asian cities. Cathay Cargo added an Airbus A330 freighter from Air Hong Kong in June 2026 to support growth.
- DHL ExpresscoreAir Hong Kong (Cathay subsidiary) operates express cargo services for DHL Express, providing scheduled and charter flights to 20 major Asian cities with all-A330F fleet.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cathay Cargo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Emirates SkyCargo: Emirates SkyCargo is the air cargo division of Emirates, operating a combination carrier model with dedicated freighters and belly capacity from one of the world's largest passenger fleets. It is directly comparable to Cathay Cargo in business model, network breadth, and premium specialized cargo positioning across Asia-Europe, Middle East, and Americas routes.
- Qatar Airways Cargo: Qatar Airways Cargo operates a fast-growing dedicated freighter fleet combined with substantial belly capacity, headquartered in Doha. It competes directly with Cathay Cargo on Asia-Europe and transpacific premium cargo, with comparable investments in pharma, perishables, and live animal solutions.
- Korean Air Cargo: Korean Air Cargo is a combination carrier with dedicated freighters and belly capacity, serving major Asia-Pacific, transpacific, and Europe routes from its Incheon hub. It competes head-to-head with Cathay Cargo on similar cargo types (pharma, e-commerce, special cargo) and shares a similar regulatory and customer profile.
- Cargolux Airlines International: Cargolux is one of the world's largest all-cargo airlines, operating a fleet of Boeing 747 freighters out of Luxembourg. It is a direct competitor to Cathay Cargo's dedicated freighter operations, especially in oversized, heavy, and special cargo segments where Cathay Expert operates.
- Lufthansa Cargo: Lufthansa Cargo is a major European combination cargo carrier serving global routes with dedicated freighters and belly capacity from the Lufthansa Group. It competes directly with Cathay Cargo on Asia-Europe pharma, e-commerce, and general freight lanes.
- Singapore Airlines Cargo: Singapore Airlines Cargo operates dedicated freighters and belly capacity out of Changi Airport, a major regional competitor to HKIA. It is highly comparable to Cathay Cargo across pharma, perishables, and premium specialized verticals in Asia-Pacific.
- DHL Aviation / Air Hong Kong: DHL Express operates the world's largest integrated air express network and Air Hong Kong (in which Cathay Group is invested) operates 14 A330 freighters serving DHL's Asia network. It is both a partner and direct competitor to Cathay Cargo in time-definite, e-commerce, and B2B express flows.
- ANA Cargo: ANA Cargo is the cargo division of All Nippon Airways, operating dedicated freighters and belly capacity from Tokyo Narita and Haneda. It competes with Cathay Cargo across intra-Asia, transpacific, and Asia-Europe premium cargo lanes.
- EVA Air Cargo: EVA Air Cargo operates dedicated 747 freighters and belly capacity, primarily serving transpacific and intra-Asia routes from Taipei. It is a comparable combination carrier competitor to Cathay Cargo on similar high-value cargo types.
Broad incumbents
- FedEx Express: FedEx Express is the world's largest express transportation company with a global air and ground network. While broader in scope, it is a meaningful competitor and benchmark for Cathay Cargo's express, e-commerce, and time-sensitive international shipments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks2 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cathay Cargo social profiles
Digital presenceCathay Cargo compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Cathay Cargo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cathay Cargo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Cathay Cargo subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Cathay Cargo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cathay Cargo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cathay Cargo
What does Cathay Cargo do?
Cathay Cargo operates air freight transportation services for specialized cargo segments including temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, live animals, dangerous goods, oversized/fragile cargo, and time-sensitive courier/e-commerce parcels, using 20 dedicated Boeing 747 freighters plus belly capacity across Cathay Group's 231-aircraft passenger network. The company provides IATA CEIV-certified handling for pharma, live animals, fresh goods, and lithium batteries, supported by digital platforms for booking, tracking, and post-booking modifications.
Is Cathay Cargo a public or private company?
Cathay Cargo is a private company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Cathay Cargo founded?
Cathay Cargo was founded in 1946. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Cathay Cargo based?
Cathay Cargo is headquartered in Lantau, Hong Kong SAR China, in the Asia region.
How does Cathay Cargo make money?
One revenue line is on record: air Cargo Freight Services.
Who are Cathay Cargo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Emirates SkyCargo, Qatar Airways Cargo, Korean Air Cargo, Cargolux Airlines International, Lufthansa Cargo, Singapore Airlines Cargo, DHL Aviation / Air Hong Kong, ANA Cargo and EVA Air Cargo. FedEx Express is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Cathay Cargo have an API?
Yes. Cathay Cargo has adopted IATA's ONE Record data protocol, enabling end-to-end data transparency across the air cargo supply chain. Freight forwarders exchange electronic air waybill and shipment status information via APIs designed to ONE Record protocols. Multi-dimensional shipment data including temperature and geolocation information is accessible through integrated systems. The milestone was achieved one year ahead of IATA's January 2026 target date.
What industry is Cathay Cargo in?
Cathay Cargo's product category is Air Cargo Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THABAEAA, Scheduled Air Cargo Airlines (All-Cargo Carriers), with a secondary code of THABAEAE, Belly-Cargo Operators (Passenger Airline Freight Divisions). Its NAICS code is 481 and its SIC code is 4512.