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Monday, March 17th, 2025

Cathay Pacific will launch ARIA Suite Business Class on Australia flights starting in March 2025, enhancing luxury travel with an upgraded Boeing 777-300ER cabin.

Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) plans to enhance Sydney services by introducing the latest ARIA Suite Business Class on its Boeing 777-300ER flights starting March 17, 2025. The move will expand the airline’s premium travel services, bringing the flagship business class experience to Australia for the first time.

With the launch, Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) has joined an exclusive list of destinations such as Beijing, London Heathrow, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo Narita, which received the latest products from airlines.

Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suite: Premium Upgrade

Cathay Pacific announced its first ARIA suite-equipped aircraft (B-KPO) in October 2024. The airline has since modified the Boeing 777-300ER fleet and upgraded one aircraft a month. So far, aircraft B-KPO, B-KPF, and B-KQH have undergone conversions and premium economy upgrades are included in the improvements.

New schedule for Sydney route with Aria Suite

Starting March 17, 2025, the Cathay Pacific Flight CX101 will depart Hong Kong (HKG) at 11:55pm and will land in Sydney at 12:00pm the following day. The return flight, the CX100, departs Sid at 3:15pm and arrives in Hong Kong at 9:30pm local time.

The CX101/CX100 operates five times a week (excluding Tuesdays and Thursdays). On ARIA non-Aria Suite days, there are old business class seats on the Boeing 777-300ER.

Starting March 30, 2025, ARIA Suite Services will shift to CX161/CX162, offering a different schedule.

CX161 will depart Hong Kong at 9:20pm and arrive in Sydney at 9:35am the next morning. CX162 will depart Sydney at 11:05am and arrive in Hong Kong at 5:30pm.

The unspecified Aria Suite Days maintains older generation business class cabins.

Cathay faces fierce competition on the Sydney route

The Hong Kong Sydney London Corridor is one of the busiest international travel routes, with around 300,000 passengers flying each year. Cathay Pacific faces tough competition with Middle Eastern giants such as Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways remain strong competitors in the Southeast Asia region.

Other airlines offering alternative connections include Air India, British Airways (via Singapore), Sri Lanka Airlines and Qantas (via Singapore).

Strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a global hub

The introduction of the Aria Suite in Sydney is just two months after its debut on the London Heathrow Route. Currently, the Aria Suit and CX255 depart Hong Kong every day at 11:35pm, arrive at Heathrow, London at 6:20am, and the CX250 return from London at 5:50pm and land in Hong Kong the following day at 2:35pm.

By expanding the Aria Suite to Sydney, Cathay Pacific is also contributing to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)’s post-pandemic recovery efforts while enhancing the appeal of premium travel. This move keeps the airlines occupying the highest-ranking career for long-haul business travelers.