Cathay Pacific’s journey from single post-war plane to aviation powerhouse – SCMP archive
Eighty years ago, former World War II pilots Roy Farrell and Sydney de Kantzow registered Cathay Pacific Airways in Hong Kong.
Operations began with a single, converted Douglas DC-3 nicknamed “Betsy” which initially flew much-needed goods between Australia and post-war Shanghai.
Today, the airline operates a fleet of 180 aircraft and, together with its budget arm HK Express, transported 37 million passengers in 2025.
In this On This Day article, we chart the company’s history through SCMP’s archive photos and coverage.
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