Cathay Pacific is continuing to grow its US network with the relaunch of its route from Hong Kong (HKG) to Seattle (SEA). The oneworld founding member plans to resume operations on this transpacific corridor next March, which will mark the first time that it has served the route in around six years.
The Airbus A350-900 will be the Hong Kong flag carrier’s aircraft of choice for these flights, which are set to operate five times a week, albeit with slightly different timings in the peak Northern Hemisphere summer months. These modern widebody twinjets offer three classes of travel, so the route should suit all budgets.
Flights Will Resume In Six Months
As confirmed in a statement released by the Hong Kong flag carrier earlier today, March 30, 2026, will see Cathay Pacific restart operations on the transpacific route between Hong Kong International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. According to One Mile At A Time, it initially began serving this route in March 2019, but suspended services a year later amid the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
The flights, which will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, will be numbered as CX852 flying to Seattle and CX853 flying back to Hong Kong. Flying east, CX852 will take 11 hours and 40 minutes, leaving at 13:10 and arriving at 10:10, while the westbound CX852 will take 13 hours and 55 minutes, leaving at 11:50 and arriving at 16:45 the next day. Cathay Pacific’s Lavinia Lau said:
“This route not only provides greater convenience for our customers, but also supports the growing demand for connectivity between Asia and North America, particularly among travellers from the Chinese Mainland and India.”
Slightly Different Timings In The Summer
The timings discussed above apply from March 30 to May 31 and from September 16 to October 24 next year. In between these periods, the peak Northern Hemisphere summer season will see an amended schedule, with CX852 leaving at the same time but touching down in Seattle some 25 minutes later.
Correspondingly, the return leg to Hong Kong, CX853, will be timed to leave Seattle 25 minutes later during the peak summer months, with its departure from the Pacific Northwest penciled in for 12:15 local time. However, its arrival in Hong Kong will remain consistent at 16:45 the next day, after crossing the date line.
As previously mentioned, Cathay Pacific plans to deploy modern three-class Airbus A350-900 widebody twinjets on this relaunched route, with the table above showing that there are plenty of seats in the aircraft’s premium cabins. According to aeroLOPA, the business class flatbeds are laid out four-abreast in a 1-2-1 configuration, while premium economy passengers can expect eight seats per row (2-4-2).
Cathay Pacific Is Targeting Connecting Traffic With This Route
Seattle and Hong Kongare both worthwhile destinations in their own right, with Cathay Pacific’s Chief Customer & Commercial Officer, Lavinia Lau, explaining that the former city is home to a “thriving tech scene, lush greenery and rich cultural offerings.” However, with the relaunch of its flights between the two cities, Cathay Pacific has also been keen to highlight the merits of the route for transit guests.
Indeed, Lau notes that “those travelling to Hong Kong and through our home hub can connect to more than 100 destinations around the world through the Cathay Group’s network.” At the American end of things, passengers can benefit from oneworld connectivity in Seattle by using alliance partner Alaska Airlines to fly to many destinations around the US, with fellow member American Airlines also present.
To mark the relaunch of its flights to Seattle, which is Cathay Pacific’s ninth North American passenger destination, the Hong Kong flag carrier is offering promotional economy fares from today until October 31 for flights booked between March 30 and June 30, 2026. This initiative will see return tickets be made available for as little as HK$5,060 (approximately $650), on a route that also suits belly cargo customers.