Cathay Pacific will begin flying its flagship Airbus A350-1000 to Melbourne and Perth from October 2019 as the airline continues a rolling update to its Australian fleet.
The advanced A350-1000 will appear daily as flight CX104 from Melbourne to Hong Kong from 27 October 2019, and as CX170 on the Perth-Hong Kong route commencing 28 October 2019.
Read: how to choose the best business class seats on Cathay Pacific's Airbus A350-1000
The smaller Airbus A350-900 is also bound for Sydney as CX110/CX111 from 27 October 2019.
"We are prouder than ever to be the first airline to introduce the A350-1000 to Australia," observed Rakesh Raicar, Cathay Pacific's Regional General Manager for South West Pacific. "The new aircraft offers a more spacious and quiet cabin, which will further enhance our customers’ travel experience and wellbeing”.
In addition to sporting Cathay Pacific's latest business class and premium economy seats, the A350s also feature inflight WiFi and boast a quieter cabin than older aircraft.
Read more: Five things we love about Cathay Pacific's Airbus A350
PREVIOUS | Cathay Pacific could begin flying its flagship Airbus A350-1000 to Melbourne or Perth in the middle of this year as the airline continues to update its Australian fleet.
While most of Cathay's Australian services rely on Airbus A330 or Boeing 777 jets, the airline has been steadily bringing its Airbus A350-900 aircraft – which boasts the latest business class and premium economy seating, along with inflight WiFi – onto key routes such as Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
Sydney is next on that list, with an A350-900 slated to take over the daily CX110/CX111 flights from October 2019 as the airline continues to shift the older Airbus A330s out of Australian skies.
Cathay Pacific is steadily increasing Airbus A350 services to Australia
However, a spokeswoman for Cathay Pacific has confirmed to Australian Business Traveller that "in terms of our A350-1000s, we are currently reviewing deployment opportunities on our Melbourne and Perth routes from winter 2019."
Cathay's A350 business class is an evolution of those on A330s and Boeing 777s, with the airline planning a further business class upgrade for its Boeing 777X fleet due to take wing in 2021.
Cathay Pacific's Airbus A350 business class
Read more: What's next for Cathay Pacific first class, business class?
In related news, Cathay Pacific expects to launch its revised business class dining service on flights from Sydney in May, with Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne and Perth to follow in June.
Cathay's revised business class dining experience will land here in May/June 2019
Meals will be individually plated and delivered to passengers by hand rather than by trolley, as the airline adopts more personalised and upmarket approach, with an expanded menu for lunch and dinner plus a breakfast menu card.
Menu cards will streamline the inflight breakfast service
Read more: What you can expect from Cathay's new business class dining concept
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Mar 2015
Total posts 227
The A350-900 is one of the most comfortable aeroplanes I have ever flown on , the A380 is a bit better.
I reckon the A350-1000 will be just a wonderful so if this happens then Melbounites are the big winners.
In my opinion there's absolutely no doubt that the latest Airbus family beats the Boeing family hands down for quietness and comfort , beautiful aeroplanes.to be a passenger in and I have been a passenger in all Boeing types over the years so I can compare with a degree of experience.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 360
I would have to agree with you Rod. Having flown on the A350 and B787 a number of times now, in my humble opinion the Airbus is superior. As you pointed out, the A380 is still the leader for passenger comfort.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Aug 2017
Total posts 119
I don’t care for Boeing vs Airbus loyalty I believe both have class leaders and beat the other in different categories. In the 787 v 350 battle I would have to agree the A350 is superior to the 787. For me as a passenger it is quieter, wider (anyone who has flown 3-3-3 in 787 economy will appreciate the slightly wider A350 and it us noticeable), I also prefer traditional full block out window shades on the 350 to the 787 electric tint windows. These things don’t block the sun out fully and the worst thing is crew on some airline controls them and will go full block out mode for the whole plane for the whole flight.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Mar 2015
Total posts 59
The 350k is a fantastic addition to the Airbus family a very comfortable space in cathay’s businesses class.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 430
This is a very positive sign for Cathay, Melbourne already has three flights a day and if there's sufficient demand for the larger A350-1000 despite Virgin's MEL-HKG service then I guess travellers really are voting with their feet and bums and wallets! I agree that the A350 is a stunning aircraft from a passenger perspective, it's very spacious and quiet.
12 Apr 2011
Total posts 72
Cathay’s A350s are in a terrible state of disrepair. Even the frames that are supposedly fixed still have issues.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Jan 2013
Total posts 15
Absolutely agree. I fly Cathay regionally 1-2 times a month, often on A350s. The seat covers in Prem & Econ are often frayed or worn, business seat frames and panels are scratched / marked, and many of the bathrooms have ill-fitting doors, panels taped up. All the more surprising as most of the planes are less than 18 months old. Some pics attached from an A350 flight from MEL to HKG 2 weeks ago.
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 384
Why does this occur on CX planes when it's not reported as a problem on other airlines? Lack of basic cleaning and maintenance?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 May 2014
Total posts 466
I would prefer CX to add frequency rather than larger aircraft to Perth. If I am flying Y then I look for day time flights, which CX have on only 3 days a week at best. My next Japan trip is on SQ, selected over CX for price and the day time flights, foregoing OW benefits as QFF LG.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Aug 2017
Total posts 119
They are maxed out for frequency to the big four (PER, BNE, SYD & MEL) they can add no more frequency to these four ports therefore going to bigger ac is the only option at this time. Due to long standing gov agreement politics (think of CX getting HK gov to refuse Jetstar HK etc)
12 Apr 2011
Total posts 72
Don’t assume the issues are fixed even on the A350-1000
12 Apr 2011
Total posts 72
Edit - it seems I can’t post links but there are many reports on Flyertalk that even the A350-1000s still have fit and finish problems including window shades that don’t close. I have experienced CX A350 fit our problems personally as recently as 2 weeks ago.
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 384
How does an airline fix these? A ferry flight to the manufacturer takes the aircraft out of service for a long time. Will CX fix when a C check occurs?
06 Feb 2014
Total posts 114
Why Perth has to compete with three east coast cities for slots is beyond me...it’s the most isolated capital city in the world and needs direct services that are invariably economic, but may not be as profitable as other east coast services. It’s a nonsense govt policy
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
10 Jul 2018
Total posts 6
If they're sent to Perth Airport. The A350-1000s would most likely be placed on the midnight CX170/171, and then the A350-900s to the morning CX144/183
Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club
02 Jul 2018
Total posts 40
I still can't get why they roll out A350 in this manner. SYD has four flights a day and they are the last to get flights refreshed.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 430
14 Jun 2017
Total posts 5
I've just flown the A350-900 business on 3 long haul flights. They are indeed comfortable and the service is generally good. But I endorse the comments about the poor maintenance and overall shoddy condition of the seats. Also poorly cleaned. And don't start me on the food.... which is inedible!
22 Sep 2017
Total posts 65
With 777s being refitted to 10 abreast in Y, Cathay knows that will be a poor experience for Aust sized passengers on a 9 hour flight. So they need to replace with A350 which are 9 abreast although still a bit narrower than 777.
06 Oct 2018
Total posts 11
Does anyone know which flight CX will replace on its HKG-MEL route to the A35K service? CX163 perhaps? Thanks.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Aug 2017
Total posts 119
Great news for Perth. Albeit the current 359 is identical product.
Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club
02 Jul 2018
Total posts 40
Can't understand they put A350-900 on their trump flight CX111.
23 Feb 2017
Total posts 16
I had a -1000 AMS-HKG and a -900 HKG-BNE earlier this week. Seat 17K both flights. There is no doubt the -1000 is better although I can't put my finger on why. Agree re. the seats on the -900. The occupant of the seat adjacent to me couldn't get the arm rest down (and neither could the crew) and I couldn't get the remote out of its socket in my seat (the scratches around it suggest I wasn't the first). B-LRC. Take note CX.
30 Nov 2017
Total posts 4
I thought Qatar was going go to be flying the a350k into Sydney/cbr as of june/july
21 Jun 2018
Total posts 2
I am booked to Hong Kong out of ADL in July and the on demand dining option still isn't available when managing my booking. Last March when I flew from AMS to HKG I was able to pre-order my meal prior to the flight, hopefully this will be reflected soon on the ADL sector, or maybe they won't be rolling this out on the older A330 fleet as ADL still retains this aircraft type.
Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club
09 Jan 2020
Total posts 2
hi, i booked to HKG on 8/4/20 out of PER. Cathay have change the plane back to A350-900 already. any comment ?
20 Oct 2015
Total posts 235
Might just be reduced capacity due to ongoing troubles in HKG, no impact on passengers as the seats are the same.
Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club
09 Jan 2020
Total posts 2
in fact, CX170/171 will be using 1000 from NOV - Mar (Perth Summer time ) and 900 on otherwise.
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