Per a tweet from Will Horton (@winglets747) at CAPA: Cathay Pacific has announced that it is suspending service between Hong Kong (HKG) and Dusseldorf (DUS) effective March, 2018 (last bookable flight).
This is unfortunate to hear, as the route is relatively new (commenced September, 2015). Currently, Cathay operates the route 4x weekly on board one of their new A350-900 aircraft featuring 38 fully flat business class seats, 28 premium economy seats, and 214 standard economy seats.
This news comes on the heels of Cathay’s recent announcement detailing their expansion to three European cities (Dublin 4x weekly, Brussels 4x weekly, and Copenhagen 3x weekly). I suspect that the airline knew this cancellation was imminent before the expansion was announced.
After it ceases service to DUS, CX will now be able to deploy that A350 onto one of their BRU or DUB routes. Both flights serve the same number of weekly flights and are not far enough to require two aircraft to operate.
In recent years, Dusseldorf has attracted multiple non-stop flights to Asia from All Nippon Airways (Tokyo) and Singapore Airlines (Singapore). I suspect that the introduction of these competitors, as well as the Gulf carriers serving the airport (Emirates, Etihad), had something to do with their shuttering of the flight.
To the Point!
Cathay’s recent European expansion has come at a price. The airline will add service to Dublin, Brussels, and Copenhagen while closing its route to Dusseldorf. Besides those based in DUS (and corporate flyers looking to get there), I would say this is not a bad tradeoff.
CX add’s three premium (leisure and business) destinations at the expense of one. If the airline couldn’t make it work with the A350, then the route must have really been hemorrhaging money.
*Featured Image Courtesy of Cathay Pacific
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