50 Year Celebration in Sydney

Our name, Cathay Pacific originates from our co-founders, Roy Farrell and Sydney de Kantzow’s sense of ambition back in 1946. Their goal? This airline would one day cross the vast Pacific Ocean from China. Through their hard work and great determination, they achieved this less than 30 years later.

We are celebrating 50 years of flying between Sydney and Hong Kong. An achievement we are sure co-founder and Australian pilot, Sydney, would be truly be proud of.

On 22^nd October 1974, 108 passengers prepared to take our first direct flight from Sydney to Hong Kong. Before this monumental occasion, Australian passengers would need to travel to Cathay Pacific’s home city via layovers across Australia and Asia. This new flight could transport customers across the ocean in around 10 hours. The first flight on a Boeing 707 was flown by Captain, Bob Howell, and First Officer, Hal Dyball, supported by Flight Engineer, Bruce Holyman.

Cathay Pacific has come a long way over the last 50 years. To call out just a few highlights:

• First to win SkyTrax’s "World’s Best Airline" four times
• First carrier to operate the most advanced passenger aircraft, A350-1000 on a commercial route out of Australia
• Recently won SkyTrax’s “World’s Best Economy Class” as well as “#5 in World’s Best Airline” for 2024
• During the pandemic, Cathay Pacific parked 76 aircraft from their fleet in the desert outside Alice Springs for almost 4 years. The last plane left Alice Springs in June 2024
• Since 1994, more than 1,800 Cathay Pacific pilots have undergone pilot training in Adelaide

Now flying to over 80 destinations around the world, Cathay Pacific opened Sydney up to new horizons all those years ago.

Cheers to 50 years of Sydney to Hong Kong – ready to bring on the next 50!