Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is proud to present our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline livery, which can be from the past, present, or even a special scheme. Some airline liveries are works of art. The complexity associated with painting around critical flight components and the added weight requires outside-the-box thinking from designers. The average airliner can cost upwards of $200,000 to repaint, creating a separate aircraft repainting industry as a result.
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In a landmark collaboration between two of the most recognized brands in Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific and the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (“WKCDA”), a new art-based livery called “Spirit of Hong Kong – 80th Anniversary Edition” was unveiled last month at a ceremony in Hong Kong.
Cathay Pacific and West Kowloon
Oneworld Alliance member Cathay Pacific is celebrating its 80 years of existence, since it was founded on Sept. 24, 1946, and has been a travel partner for WKCDA since 2023. West Kowloon is the name of a business and cultural district located in the Western part of the Kowloong peninsula facing the Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, and it comprises 40 hectares of reclaimed land blending together art, education, open space, hotel, office and residential developments and retail, dining and entertainment facilities.
WKCDA is responsible for the development of this area and has inspired this special livery that “ingeniously combines WestK’s “Where Art Comes Alive” brand vision with Cathay’s commitment to creating an elevated and meaningful customer experience under its “Move Beyond” ethos, further solidifying both parties’ shared long-term commitment to advancing the development of Hong Kong’s arts, culture and creative industries,” said WKCDA in a press release.
The Old and the New
“For eight decades, Cathay has grown alongside Hong Kong,” said Ronald Lam, Cathay Pacific Group Chief Executive. “As we mark ‘80 Years Together’ with our home city, we are honoring our heritage with the return of our classic ‘lettuce leaf sandwich’ livery on our Airbus A350 and Boeing 747 aircraft, while also embracing the future with a vibrant modern art livery on our Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.”
“In partnership with WKCDA and through ‘The Spirit of Hong Kong’ livery, we aim to support outstanding local artistic creativity and showcase the unique culture and spirit of Hong Kong to audiences around the world. Through our investment of well over HK$100 billion into our fleet, cabin products, lounges and digital innovation, we will continue to win hearts and strengthen Hong Kong’s status as a leading international aviation hub — moving our city, customers and team forward together.”
The Aria Suites
The aircraft in this new livery is a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, registered as B-KQU, powered by two GE90-115BL2 engines, and it was delivered to Cathay Pacific on Dec. 20, 2014, and has flown for the airline ever since.
The aircraft is configured in a three-class seating arrangement featuring the newest Cathay Pacific onboard product, including the newest Aria Business Class suite with fully-flat seats, 24-inch 4K screen and privacy panes. This Boeing 777-300 has 45 Business Class suites (in a 1-2-1 configuration), 48 Premium Economy seats (2-4-2) and 268 Economy Class seats.
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