With these orders, Cathay Pacific will become the largest operator of the Boeing 777X in Asia based on current figures from Boeing. “We’re looking forward to the GE9X joining our fleet,” said Alex McGowan, Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer at Cathay Pacific. He added that “the GE9X engine provides market leading technologies and will help ensure we continue to offer our customers reliable travel across our expanding network,” according to a statement from GE.
Mahendra Nair, Group Vice President for Commercial Programs at GE Aerospace, commented: “Cathay Pacific was the first customer in the Asia-Pacific region to select the new GE9X engine and we’re honored they continue to place their confidence in our products and services. Combining the world’s largest twin-engine commercial passenger jet and the most powerful commercial aircraft engine will enable Cathay to reach destinations across the globe.”
The GE9X engine is recognized as one of the most powerful commercial turbofans ever built. Its design allows airlines like Cathay Pacific to replace older four-engine aircraft with more efficient twinjets while maintaining performance standards. The engine is also designed for improved fuel efficiency within its class and can operate using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blends.
Currently, Cathay Pacific operates a significant number of Boeing widebodies—52 active Boeing 777-300 and -300ER models are listed in its fleet according to Planespotters.net data (https://www.planespotters.net/). The incoming Boeing 777X series promises greater flexibility for route planning as well as enhanced cabin comfort with features such as larger windows—an upgrade inspired by design elements from Boeing's Dreamliner family—and customizable LED lighting systems.
In recent years following pandemic-related disruptions, Cathay Pacific has experienced strong recovery in both passenger numbers and cargo activity. In just the first half of 2024 alone, passenger volume reached over ten million travelers—a year-on-year increase exceeding one-third compared with early-2023 figures (https://news.cathaypacific.com/cathays-first-half-2024-operating-results). Passenger revenue rose by approximately fourteen percent during this period into early-2025.
Cargo operations also saw positive trends: flight capacity grew by over eleven percent while traffic increased nearly five percent during early-2024 compared with previous periods (https://cargonews.cathaypacific.com/cargo-performance-update-h1-2024). Net profit rose slightly above one percent year-on-year despite higher fuel costs; sustainability efforts were highlighted alongside improvements in customer experience.
The ongoing expansion involving next-generation aircraft aligns with other developments at Cathay including staff growth initiatives and industry recognition—such as accolades received at this year's Skytrax World Airline Awards (https://www.worldairlineawards.com/worlds-best-airlines-2025/).
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