Cathay Pacific has reported “improvements” in passenger travel demand in July — despite seeing a slight dip in capacity for the month — as it anticipates a further boost to demand in August and September. The Hong Kong-based carrier, which recently narrowed its half-yearly losses, also maintained its forecast of operating at 30% pre-pandemic capacity by the end of the year. In July, Cathay flew just over 54,000 passengers, about 26% higher year on year, but still a dismal 98% decline compared to the same month in pre-pandemic 2019. The carrier flew an average of 1,745 passengers a day in July, higher than the 1,355 passengers it carried in June. Cathay’s chief customer and commercial officer Ronald Lam adds that on 29 July, the carrier flew more than 2,500 passengers — the most number in a day this year. RPKs for the month rose nearly 23% year on year, but was down 98% compared to pre-pandemic levels. As for capacity, Cathay reported a 0.7% year-on-year uptick, but a 93% plunge compared to 2019. Lam adds that capacity was down 3% compared to June figures. Passenger load factor — at 28.5% in July — is the highest so far in 12 months, representing a 5.1 percentage point increase year on year. Lam attributes the improvement in traffic to “robust” transit traffic from Mainland China to the US and Canada. <br/>
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Qantas has unveiled new downloadable products to recreate the “sights and sounds” of a Qantas flight, in its latest attempt to bring the flying experience to grounded customers. The airline has released a series of aviation-themed Zoom backgrounds as well as a full 15-minute version of its signature Qantas ‘soundtrack’. Included in the latest release is 10 downloadable backgrounds for video meetings, that could see you take your next meeting from a business class seat, in the Qantas airport lounge, out on the tarmac, or even in the cockpit. Meanwhile, the airline has also released the full version of its iconic Qantas soundtrack, created by Australian composer Haydn Walker and guitarist Nathan Cavaleri. The soundtrack is played aboard every Qantas domestic and international flight, and has now been released in full, at the request of frequent flyers, Qantas has said.<br/>