Cathay Pacific Airways has announced a temporary expansion of its operations in the Americas, with a 12-week cargo service that will link Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) with Southeast Asia.
The temporary service originates in Ho Chi Minh Saigon Airport (SGN), with a stop at Cathay Pacific’s cargo terminal at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), before arriving at PIT, every Monday and Thursday, until November 26, 2020.
The service is aimed at supplementing the airline’s existing network of 19 cargo stations throughout the Americas, including East Coast cargo services to Boston, Newark, and Washington, Dulles, and a dedicated freighter port at New York (JFK).
The first arrival touched down at Pittsburgh on September 21 at 10:30 AM local time, carrying consumer goods from Asia.
“Cathay Pacific is excited to link Hong Kong, one of the world’s key intermodal airfreight hubs, to Pittsburgh. The city is ideally placed between the Eastern Seaboard and the Midwest, home to more than 50 per cent of the population of the United States,” said Fred Ruggiero, Vice President- Cargo, Americas, Cathay Pacific Airways.
“Cargo remains a bright spot for the airline during this challenging time. This temporary expansion underscores Cathay Pacific’s commitment to our freight forwarder partners, who requested an expanded cargo service to meet heightened demand. We are pleased to join forces with Pittsburgh International Airport and Unique Logistics and look forward to assisting with future freight needs,” added Ruggiero.
“We are thrilled to partner with Cathay Pacific and Unique Logistics in expanding our air cargo network. This is another step in building Pittsburgh International Airport into a global logistics center with world-class service. Our speed, efficiency and ideal location offer a unique benefit for carriers and freight forwarders looking to serve the North America market,” said Christina Cassotis, CEO of Pittsburgh International Airport.
Notably, Cathay Pacific’s flight CX8800 will be operated utilising a reconfigured Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft instead of its go-to ultra-long-haul freighter- the Boeing 747-8, of which currently 14 comprises its fleet.
