Cathay Cargo will route its Europe-bound freighters through Navi Mumbai International Airport and Bengaluru for technical stops this winter, replacing Astana, Kazakhstan, where winter weather conditions are expected to become challenging.
The move follows the suspension of the airline’s Dubai and Riyadh operations amid the Middle East conflict. Dubai previously served as a midpoint for five weekly Europe-bound freighter services.
Meanwhile, Cathay Cargo is adding an Airbus A330P2F converted freighter on long-term lease from Air Transport Services Group (ATSG), with operations expected to begin by mid-November. The aircraft will strengthen regional feeder connectivity to mainland China, Southeast Asia and India.
The airline also expects its first Airbus A350F freighter in the second half of 2028. Its firm order has increased from six to eight aircraft, with 18 additional purchase rights remaining.
Cathay Cargo reported a 9% year-on-year increase in cargo tonnage between January and September 2026, driven largely by strong demand for AI-related hardware, including server racks, CPUs and GPUs. The airline expects this demand to continue into 2027.
India, Southeast Asia and North America remain key growth markets as Cathay Cargo focuses on expanding capacity, improving digital services and strengthening its global network.