Cathay Pacific announced on January 8, 2025, that its global network will be expanded further in 2025 with the launch of direct flights between Hong Kong and Rome. Commencing on June 5, 2025, and to be operated on a three-times-weekly summer seasonal service, the new Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to Rome- Fiumicino (FCO) route will be Cathay Pacific’s second direct connection between its home hub and Italy. The airline currently operates five return flights per week to Milan-Malpensa (MXP), a service that will increase to a daily frequency in the summer of 2025.
Cathay Pacific’s new 5,778-mile (9,245km) route to Rome will be operated using the airline’s 30-strong fleet of Airbus A350-900 aircraft which each accommodate 280 passengers in a three-class layout – 38 in business class, 28 in premium economy class, and 214 in economy class.
The flight schedules (which remain subject to final regulatory approval) will see flight CX293 depart Hong Kong at 00:45 on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, arriving at Rome at 07:50 local time. The return flight (CX292) will depart Rome at 11:45 on the same days and arrive back in Hong Kong at 05:20 the following morning. The route will operate until October 25, 2025.
According to a Cathay Pacific statement, “Visitors to Rome can look forward to exploring one of Europe’s most impressive historical and cultural centers with the city boasting countless monuments, landmarks, museums, and churches. Cathay Pacific’s return to the city is especially timely, providing travelers from Asia with a convenient connection to the Italian capital as the Catholic Church celebrates the 2025 Year of Jubilee. Taking place once every 25 years, the Jubilee will see a host of events and celebrations take place in Vatican City and Rome throughout the year.”
“Cathay Pacific’s history in Italy stretches back close to 40 years when we first launched direct flights between Hong Kong and Rome in 1986,” said Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau. “We know our customers have been eagerly anticipating the return of this route, and we are delighted to be returning to Italy’s marvelous capital this summer. Whether they are traveling for business, leisure, or the 2025 Jubilee celebrations, we look forward to welcoming customers onboard our flights to experience our world-class service.”
According to the carrier, Cathay Group is firmly focused on adding more flights and destinations worldwide and strengthening Hong Kong’s status as a leading international aviation hub throughout 2025. The Group has so far announced six cities that will be joining its global passenger network during 2025, with more to be added “in due course,” says the airline. For the summer of 2025, the carrier will fly to London-Heathrow, Manchester, Amsterdam, Rome, Milan, Madrid, Barcelona, Dublin, Copenhagen, Paris-CDG, Frankfurt, and Munich.
In addition to Rome, Cathay Pacific is launching direct flights to Hyderabad in March 2025, Dallas-Fort Worth in April, Munich in June 2025, and lastly, Brussels in August 2025. Meanwhile, the Cathay Group’s low-cost carrier HK Express will launch new flights to Sendai Airport (SDJ) in Japan later in January 2025 in competition with Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines. Combined, the two Cathay Group airlines project that they will operate passenger services to 100 destinations worldwide by the end of 2025.
