Cathay Pacific has unveiled its Airbus A321neo aircraft, which will enter into service on 4 August 2021 with the inaugural flight from Hong Kong to Shanghai Pudong. The airline has already taken delivery of four A321neos, and will receive a further two during the second half of 2021, reaching a total of 16 by the end of 2023.
The single-aisle A321neo has 202 seats, including 12 in Business Class and 190 in Economy Class.
Augustus Tang, Chief Executive Officer, Cathay Pacific, said: “We’re incredibly excited to see our next-generation A321neo take to the skies for the first time next month as we continue to add more passenger services in the region. The single-aisle A321neo is the newest addition to our fleet and has been designed and fitted with an array of new features that offer the most enjoyable short-haul experience in the world to our customers. We look forward to deploying A321neos on more regional routes and welcoming customers on board.”
The A321neo is the first aircraft to feature Cathay Pacific’s newly designed Regional Business Class seat. The next-generation hard-shell recliner seat provides a cocoon-like feel with divider screens for more privacy. The 15.6-inch 4K Ultra-HD personal TV screens offer an enhanced inflight entertainment experience.
Meanwhile, the Economy Class seats feature 11.6-inch 4K personal TV screens along with a generous recline, comfortable seat cushions and new adjustable headrests.
With the A321neo, Cathay Pacific is the first airline in the world to provide 4K ultra-high-definition screens, a 4K video-on-demand experience as well as Bluetooth audio streaming, which will be introduced progressively across all cabins. Customers will be able to watch 4K blockbusters using their own Bluetooth-enabled headphones.
The A321neo will also have a new and enhanced content selection providing one of the largest movie and TV libraries available on a regional single-aisle aircraft. High-speed Wi-Fi will be gradually introduced onboard, allowing customers to catch up on emails or browse social media.
Cathay Pacific has also stated that the aircraft’s advanced LEAP engines deliver a 22% reduction in CO2 emissions on a per-seat basis when compared to the previous A321 aircraft.
The carrier plans to deploy the aircraft on flights to Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Qingdao, Kaohsiung and Taipei during August.
