Cathay Pacific Airways today released traffic figures for the month of August 2002 showing strong year-on-year growth in both cargo volumes and passenger numbers.

In August 2002, Cathay Pacific carried 1,143,520 passengers, a 10.9% increase over the same month last year. The passenger load factor for August was 82.1%, virtually unchanged from July 2002.

Cargo`s strong performance continued with 74,222 tonnes carried in August, up from 72,343 tonnes in July this year and 27.2% higher than in August 2001.

Cumulative figures for the year to date show a 5.3% increase in the number of passengers and a 17.8% increase in the volume of freight carried, compared to the same eight-month period last year.

Cathay Pacific General Manager Revenue Management, Sales & Distribution Ian Shiu said: “The good news is that our passenger numbers and load factor for August remained firm as a result of good demand for leisure travel. But yields have still been lower than we`d like during the peak summer period because fewer people have been flying in the front end.”

Cathay Pacific General Manager Cargo Kenny Tang said: “Strong exports through Hong Kong to North America, Europe and intra-Asian trade, are still driving growth in our cargo business as we move into the peak season.”

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