Cathay Pacific Orders 10 Freighters

Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s largest commercial airline, has placed an order for 17 Boeing aircraft, including ten freighters to be delivered between 2009 and 2012. Also on the order are seven 777-300 Extended Range passenger aircraft. The company says it also plans to add more aircraft to cater to China’s growing travel market.

The aircraft will serve China and Hong Kong, which comprise 43% of Cathay’s sales, and will also fly to North America with a third daily New York flight that was scheduled to start in mid November.

Cathay Pacific is Asia’s third largest cargo carrier. It will phase out seven older 747-200 freighters by 2012 with eight new 747-8 freighters due in 2009