Cathay Pacific says a proposed codeshare agreement with Qantas would encourage more tourists to visit Australia and benefit the national economy.
Hong Kong's privacy commissioner for personal data Stephen Wong says elements of Cathay Pacific's IT systems were "too lax" in securing passenger data prior to a data breach.
Qantas will seek to reverse a draft ruling from Australia regulators denying the airline approval to allow Cathay Pacific to codeshare on flight between Australia and Hong Kong.
Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) has knocked back Qantas's application to forge a deeper codeshare arrangement with Cathay Pacific.
Cairns will lose its last remaining nonstop link to Hong Kong from October 2019 when Cathay Pacific ends flights to Far North Queensland.
Virgin Australia says Qantas's argument its proposed codeshare with Cathay Pacific would not reduce competition is simplistic and incorrect.