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Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.

Company Background

Cathay Pacific Airways is Hong Kong's flag carrier, offering passenger and cargo services to around 200 cities in Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and Australia. It has a workforce of around 23,000.

The company was established in 1946 by Roy Farrell, an American, and Sydney de Kantzow, an Australian. Early on, it offered flights to Shanghai, Bangkok, Manila and Singapore.

Swire Pacific, a conglomerate engaged in the property development, beverage, marine services and trading businesses, has owned 45% of Cathay Pacific since 1948. Through the years, Swire has overseen the airline's expansion. In 2006, Cathay Pacific acquired Dragonair, a Hong Kong-based carrier that mainly flies within the Asia-Pacific region. Around the same time, it signed a strategic partnership with national flag carrier Air China.

Air China owns 29.99% of Cathay Pacific.

John Slosar, who also leads Swire, became chairman of Cathay Pacific in 2014. Amid the rise of low-cost carriers, he plans to boost the airline's competitiveness by capitalizing on a new runway at Hong Kong International Airport. The third runway, scheduled for completion in 2023, should allow the airport to handle 102 flights per hour, up from 68, and serve an additional 30 million passengers annually.

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