Cathay Pacific operates a daily service from Manchester Airport to Hong Kong, providing a vital link for both tourism and business travel. The airline connects the North of England with the Far East, offering access to Hong Kong's vibrant culture and onward connections to mainland China, Japan, and Australia.
Hong Kong: A Compact Destination with Much to Offer
Hong Kong, despite being the fourth-most densely populated region in the world, boasts a range of attractions from dazzling skyscrapers to stunning mountain views. Key highlights include Victoria Peak, accessible via the Peak Tram, and the Star Ferry, which offers a scenic and affordable way to cross Victoria Harbour. The region is also renowned for its food markets and dim sum.
A Look Inside the Cabins
The Manchester Evening News was given a tour of a Boeing 777 aircraft at Manchester Airport to see what Cathay Pacific offers across its three cabins. The airline has been named the world's best economy class airline by Skytrax for two consecutive years, and the world's third best airline overall, behind Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines.
In Economy, seats are arranged in a 3-4-3 configuration, featuring adjustable leather headrests, blankets, and pillows. The in-flight dining menu includes options like braised duck with taro and pickled plum sauce, braised beef with button mushrooms, and spiced paneer and vegetable biryani. All passengers have access to the same inflight entertainment system, which was named the world's best at the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards.
Premium Economy and Business Class
Premium Economy offers more space with a 2-4-2 configuration, extra legroom, a leg rest, a cocktail tray, and an amenity kit. Business Class provides even more luxury with a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone layout, ensuring every passenger has aisle access. Seats recline fully into lie-flat beds, and each pod includes a Bamford amenity kit, a side table, and dining options that can be pre-selected.
Upcoming Upgrades: The Aria Suite
Cathay Pacific is retrofitting its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, introducing the new Aria Suite in Business Class. This will feature suite doors for enhanced privacy, a removable partition in centre seats, 24-inch 4K ultra HD screens, Bluetooth headset pairing, and luxury touches like suede walls and gold-accented details.
Premium Economy will receive customised cushions, leather-padded footrests, headrest wings for support, 15.6-inch 4K screens, and USB-C ports. Economy seats will be upgraded with new covers, additional overhead bin space, improved front row ergonomics, flexible headrests, and tablet holders.
The Skytrax World Airline Awards will be presented in London next month, where Cathay Pacific will learn if it has been named the world's best economy service for a third year running.
