A renowned airline originating from the opposite side of the globe, recognized as the world’s third-best carrier, is celebrating three decades of flights to and from Pearson Airport in Mississauga.
A renowned airline originating from the opposite side of the globe, recognized as the world’s third-best carrier, is celebrating three decades of flights to and from Pearson Airport in Mississauga.
Cathay Pacific, headquartered in Hong Kong, commenced its one-stop flight service between the bustling metropolis and Pearson on June 9, 1994, as highlighted by airline officials in a recent press release.
In a recent social media post, Pearson officials also acknowledged the airline’s 30th anniversary of serving Toronto, stating, “With four additional weekly arrivals and departures this summer, Cathay Pacific continues to expand its operations at Pearson.”
The inauguration of the Hong Kong-Toronto service commenced with three flights per week in each direction, with stopovers in Anchorage for refueling. This service, groundbreaking at the time, provided the quickest and most convenient connection between the two cities, with an eastbound duration of 16.5 hours and westbound duration of 18.5 hours.
Remarkably, Cathay Pacific briefly operated non-stop flights between Hong Kong and Pearson in late 1994, reducing flight time to approximately 13 hours and 45 minutes, thanks to favorable westerly winds.
Chris van den Hooven, Cathay Pacific’s Senior Vice President for the Americas, reflected on the significant impact of larger aircraft, particularly the Boeing 747, on international travel during the 1980s and 1990s. He emphasized that prior to Cathay Pacific’s one-stop service, passengers would have had to change aircraft at least once.
Kurush Minocher, Pearson’s Executive Director of Customer Experience and Airline Relations, praised Cathay Pacific’s longstanding commitment to connecting Toronto with Asia and expressed enthusiasm for further strengthening the partnership.
Hong Kong’s Tourism Board also commended Cathay Pacific for bridging the gap between Hong Kong and Toronto, facilitating connectivity between two vibrant cities with its renowned fleet and award-winning services.
Currently, Cathay Pacific operates 14 weekly flights from Pearson to Hong Kong, in addition to 10 weekly flights from Vancouver.
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