Overview
- Cathay Group exercised its purchase rights on Wednesday, Nov. 11, converting 14 Airbus options into a firm order for 11 A330‑900 widebodies and three A321neo single‑aisles.
- The 11 A330‑900s raise Cathay’s firm A330‑900 commitments to 41 and are scheduled for delivery between 2031 and 2035 to support regional Asia routes with optional longer‑haul use.
- Cathay said Airbus granted significant price concessions that put the actual purchase price below the filing’s basic valuation of about $5.11 billion and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange granted a waiver to withhold the final agreed price.
- Each aircraft will be paid in eight cash instalments with multiple financing routes available including loans, leases or sale‑and‑leaseback arrangements, and the transaction does not require shareholder approval.
- The three A321neos are earmarked for HK Express to expand short‑haul services to mainland China, the order raises planned deliveries from 2026 to 120, and the new jets will help replace older A330‑300s to cut fuel use, CO2 and operating costs.