Airline · CX · Hong Kong SAR of ChinaHow reliable is Cathay Pacific?
Cathay Pacific runs 68% on time across 14,675 flights of official history. Here’s how it really performs — including when it’s late and on which routes.
Reliability score
on-time, cancellations & delays
Network reliability
Cathay Pacific’s on-time record across its whole network
Source: UK CAA · data through 2025-12-31. All-cause performance (this source has no delay-cause split). Advisory context, not a guarantee for any one flight.
When flights run late
It’s not just if Cathay Pacific is late — it’s how late
Of every 100 Cathay Pacific flights, how they actually land — on time, or in each lateness band. A short delay is a nuisance; a 2-hour delay misses connections.
Routes
Where Cathay Pacific shines — and where it struggles
Its most and least reliable routes by on-time rate (routes with a meaningful sample). Tap an airport for its full profile.
The read on Cathay Pacific
What the record actually tells you about flying Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific runs about 68% on time across 14,675 flights of official all-cause history — a middling record — fine on a good day, fragile when conditions turn. On cancellations, cancellations are rare here, at roughly 0.7%.
It's not just whether a flight is late, but how late. When Cathay Pacific runs behind, the typical delay lands around 17 minutes, and only a small slice — about 1.5% — slip two hours or more, so the worst-case tail is relatively contained.
Reliability isn't uniform across Cathay Pacific's map. Its strongest route in the data is HKG–ICN, running around 85% on time, while LHR–HKG is among its weakest at about 64%. That gap is the whole point: judge Cathay Pacific on the route you're actually flying, not on its overall average.
A track record is the backdrop, not a verdict on your flight. To put it to work, score your actual Cathay Pacific flight on reliability, weather, and connection safety, see how the Peace of Mind Score works, and read are some airlines really more reliable and how to read on-time stats.
Common questions about Cathay Pacific
- How often is Cathay Pacific on time?
- Cathay Pacific (CX) ran about 68% on time across 14,675 flights of official history — a middling record — fine on a good day, fragile when conditions turn. Its cancellation rate is roughly 0.7%.
- Is Cathay Pacific a reliable airline?
- On the numbers, Cathay Pacific has a middling record — fine on a good day, fragile when conditions turn. Typical delays run around 17 minutes when flights are late. Reliability varies by route and time of day, so check your specific flight rather than the brand average. It's advisory context, not a guarantee for any one flight.
- Which routes does Cathay Pacific fly most reliably?
- In our data, HKG–ICN is among Cathay Pacific's most reliable routes at about 85% on time, while LHR–HKG is among its weakest near 64%. The same airline can perform very differently route to route.
Reliability guides
Flying Cathay Pacific?
Score your actual flight on reliability, weather, and connection safety before you book — Cathay Pacific’s track record is just the start.