Cathay Pacific Celebrates as Last Stored Plane Departs
• Travel news
• Air travel
Cathay Pacific has bid farewell to a chapter of its history as the last plane stored in the outback due to COVID finally takes off. Nearly four years after grounding a significant portion of its fleet at Alice Springs, the airline sees this departure as a symbolic moment marking the end of the pandemic era and the beginning of a new chapter leading up to its 80th anniversary in 2026.
During the peak of the pandemic, Cathay Pacific had 76 planes stored at Alice Springs, where they underwent regular maintenance to ensure they were flight-ready once operations resumed. The departure of the last plane signifies a return to normalcy for the airline and the aviation industry as a whole.
The journey of these grounded planes has been a testament to resilience and dedication, with over 3500 hours of maintenance work put in each week to keep them in top condition. The decision to store the aircraft in the desert proved to be beneficial, as the low-humidity conditions helped preserve the planes during their extended hiatus.
The departure of the final Cathay Pacific plane from Alice Springs marks the end of a challenging period for the airline and its staff. With meticulous planning and coordination, the aircraft are now set to undergo reactivation tasks before resuming regular flights. The airline has also introduced new cabins and amenities to enhance the passenger experience, signaling a fresh start for Cathay Pacific post-pandemic.
As the aviation industry continues to recover from the impact of COVID-19, the departure of the last stored plane serves as a beacon of hope for the future of air travel.
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Biography:
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