Cathay Pacific Airways today released traffic figures for July 2004, a month that saw holiday traffic set a new one-month passenger record and an upturn in cargo carried as well.

In July, the airline carried 1,268,634 passengers, a new one-month record, up from 1,142,345 carried in June. A new one-day passenger record of 45,803 was set on 4 July, beating a week-old record of 45,331 passengers set on 27 June.

High passenger numbers were produced by an 81.3 percent average passenger load factor, the highest so far this year, along with a new record one-month passenger capacity, measured in terms of Available Seat Kilometres, or ASKs.

The airline carried 80,811 tonnes of cargo in July, up from 76,769 tonnes in June.
The cargo load factor was 69.6 percent, marginally down from 70.2 percent last month.

Cathay Pacific General Manager Revenue Management, Sales & Distribution Ian Shiu said: "The arrival of the summer travel peak and an increase in capacity both contributed to a record number of passengers travelling with the airline in July. Figures were boosted by the popularity of our non-stop New York service, which has been at near capacity during its first month in operation."

Cathay Pacific Director & General Manager Cargo Ron Mathison said: "Re-exports from Hong Kong to North America and Australia remained strong in July and we expect that overall cargo demand will begin to build in late August as the seasonal peak begins. Fuel accounts for a large proportion of cargo's operating costs, so its current high level remains a serious concern."

Cathay Pacific Airways
Corporate Communication Department