Cathay Pacific Airways, which generates about 30% of its revenue from cargo activities, is evaluating its future freighter fleet and is studying the 747-8F, 777F and A380 freighter."We are looking at them but we may not make a decision this year, because we are very well served with our strategy not to order [new] aircraft too early," COO Tony Tyler told ATWOnline in Hong Kong. He joked that the airline might make an exception "if Boeing gives us a killer offer."

Cathay currently operates a fleet of seven 747-200Fs, six 747-400Fs and one 747-400BCF. It has orders for five more 747BCFs and six options. It also holds 60% of Air Hong Kong, which operates six 747 freighters. Cathay is planning to build its own cargo terminal at Hong Kong International Airport, which it says will add soon-to-be-needed capacity while helping to control handling costs.

On the route network, it faces the same problem as other freight carriers: Flights from the Far East to Europe are mostly full, but on the backhaul aircraft have too many empty pallet positions. To solve the problem, it is looking for several new European destinations that can offer cargo for return flights. "We have Northern Europe in mind," Tyler said. Meanwhile, Cathay will start a new twice-weekly cargo service to Chennai on June 2.

Discussing the passenger fleet, Tyler said the airline is very interested in the 787-10 as well the dash 9. "That's the [kind of] future long-haul aircraft we are looking for," he declared. The A380 is very much on the fleet renewal worksheet, as well the 747-8, because "one day we will have a need for larger aircraft." Cathay will take delivery of its first 777-300ER in September and place it on the North America network. It holds orders for 16 of the type and purchase rights for 20 more.