Cathay Pacific has commenced Boeing 777-300ER operations to Sydney.
The Hong Kong-based carrier has upguaged one of its four daily Airbus A330-300 services to the NSW capital to the larger Boeing aircraft.
The first 777 flight landed at Sydney Airport on Wednesday evening and the larger Boeing will be used three days a week until February, when it will go daily. Cathay’s three other daily flights between Hong Kong and Sydney will continue to be operated by A330 aircraft.
Cathay has utilised the full amount of available frequencies to Australia’s four major gateways Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney for Hong Kong-designated carriers. Therefore, any capacity increases would require larger aircraft rather than more flights.
The 777-300ERs on the Sydney route are configured with 340 seats across business, premium economy and economy class. Meanwhile, Cathay’s three-class A330-300s used to serve Australia have 242 seats.
