Cathay scopes out A330neo business class

Cathay Pacific is riding the ‘new business class’ wave with a fresh take on regional business class for its forthcoming Airbus A330neo.

The Oneworld airline will begin flying this next-gen version of the popular A330 workhorse in 2028, with a solid 30 jets bound for the hangars at Hong Kong by 2031.

And Cathay is already scoping out the options for its A330neo business class, which may or may not be the same as the flatbed on the upgraded A330 jets.

“We’re keeping that open, but I think that could be a sensible thing to do,” notes Vivian Lo, Cathay Pacific's General Manager of Customer Experience and Design.

“But at the end of the day it’s not the (seat) supplier, it’s the experience that we design, which will be very much Cathay,” Lo tells Executive Traveller.

Cathay Pacific’s A330neo business class

Executive Traveller understands that Cathay’s agnostic approach to its A330neo business class places a high weighting on how any potential seat will deliver a consistent experience to the new A330 business class.

This could be a later and slightly improved version of the same platform which will be rolled out on the A330’s mid-life refresh from 2026, or it could even be a seat from another manufacturer if passenger experience is close enough and the economics prove favourable.

And with the first A330neo due in 2028, the cabin fit-out doesn’t need to be locked down until sometime in 2026.

However, as delays continue to ripple through the airline industry’s complex supply chain, the airline prefers to ink supplier contracts for everything from seats and galleys to washrooms and flooring material sooner rather than later, so that each part of this 135 tonne jigsaw puzzle comes together at the same time.

The A330neo is Cathay's next-gen regional workhorse.

The A330neo – also known as the A330-900 – is the next generation of Airbus’ popular A330 twin-aisle workhorse.

For airlines, the A330neo delivers extended range compared to the ‘classic’ A330, powered by fuel-efficient engines with lower emissions.

Passengers can look forward to a sleeker, quieter and more spacious cabin with higher-capacity overhead luggage bins and LED lighting schemes.

Cathay also has the option to select electronically-dimmable windows which go all the way to 99.9% black at the press of a button. 

Where Cathay Pacific will fly the A330neo

Cathay sees the A330neo as primarily replacing its older A330 and potentially some Boeing 777 jets with business class recliners on “high-capacity regional routes” but with the potential to bring long-range routes under their wings.

“The A330 is an aircraft type that has been serving Cathay Pacific well for nearly 30 years,” says Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam.

“These new aircraft will principally serve our regional destinations in Asia, while also providing the flexibility to serve longer-haul destinations as required.”

And, as noted by Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Christian Scherer, those regional routes sees “50% of the world’s population within a five-hour flight from Hong Kong.”

However, in addition to its initial order for 30 of the A330neo jets, Cathay holds ‘purchase rights’ on another 30 which could be used for both replacement and growth.

Whatever business class finds a home in Cathay Pacific’s A330neo fleet will slot in alongside the current A321neo regional business class recliners, the new 777 Aria Suites and a refreshed business class slated for both the A330 and A350 jets.

Also read: Cathay plans ‘next-gen’ Hong Kong flagship lounges 

David Flynn travelled to Hong Kong as a guest of Cathay Pacific