# Cathay Cargo (IATA CX · ICAO CPA · AWB 160)

> Cathay Cargo is the air cargo brand of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited in Hong Kong, IATA designator CX, AWB prefix 160. There is no separate AOC behind the brand: the operator is the passenger airline Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, which as a combination carrier markets its own Boeing 747 freighters together with the belly capacity of its passenger network. The Cathay Group also comprises Air Hong Kong and the Cathay Cargo Terminal. For forwarders this means bookings run under CX with AWB prefix 160, and exports out of Hong Kong have been fully e-AWB since 2011. Via the Hong Kong hub, freighter and belly capacity is available alongside CEIV-certified solutions for pharmaceuticals, perishables, live animals and lithium batteries.

## Quick facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Legal | Cathay Pacific Airways Limited |
| IATA | `CX` |
| ICAO | `CPA` |
| AWB prefix | `160` |
| Country | HK |
| Group | Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (Cathay Group) |
| Tracking | https://www.cathaycargo.com/en-us/track-and-trace.html |

## Overview

Cathay Cargo is the cargo brand of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, the airline of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. There is no separate company behind the name: the operator of the aircraft and the contracting party of the air waybill is Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, whose shares are listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange, as are those of its substantial shareholders Swire Pacific and Air China. The Cathay Group also includes the freight carrier Air Hong Kong and the ground handler Cathay Cargo Terminal.

Cathay Cargo operates as a combination carrier. Its own freighter fleet comprises 20 Boeing 747s — 14 B747-8Fs and six B747-400ERFs (as at 27 May 2026). On top of that come eight Airbus A350Fs on order: six from the 2023 order and two more through purchase rights exercised in May 2026. In addition, Cathay Cargo markets the belly capacity of the Cathay Group passenger network, which serves more than 100 destinations worldwide.

The hub is Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), ranked by Airports Council International as the world's busiest cargo airport 15 times since 2010. Handling there is carried out by the group's own Cathay Cargo Terminal, in operation since 2013.

For forwarders: the IATA designator is CX, the ICAO code CPA and the AWB prefix 160 — an air waybill therefore takes the form 160-12345678. For export shipments out of Hong Kong the electronic air waybill (e-AWB) has applied throughout since 1 January 2011. Alongside general cargo, Cathay Cargo offers the specialised solutions Cathay Priority, Cathay Pharma, Cathay Fresh, Cathay Live Animal, Cathay Dangerous Goods, Cathay Secure, Cathay Courier, Cathay Mail and Cathay Expert; all nine classes of dangerous goods are accepted. Cathay Cargo holds the IATA CEIV certifications Pharma, Fresh, Live Animals and Lithium Batteries as well as Cargo iQ membership.

## Hubs

- HKG

## Fleet

- Boeing 747-8F × 14 (135000 kg)

- Boeing 747-400ERF × 6 (127000 kg)

- Airbus A350F × 8

## Sources

- [Cathay Cargo — offizielle Website](https://www.cathaycargo.com/en-us/home.html)

- [IATA — Current Airline Members: Cathay Pacific](https://www.iata.org/en/about/members/airline-list/cathay-pacific/64/)

- [Cathay Pacific — Pressemitteilung A350F-Bestellung, 27.05.2026](https://news.cathaypacific.com/cathay-cargo-further-expands-its-airbus-a350f-freighter-orders-to-eight-thfy2s)

- [Cathay Cargo Terminal — Sendungsverfolgung (AWB-Prefix 160)](https://www.cathaycargoterminal.com/en-us/Shipment-Tracking?AWBPrefix=160&AWBSuffix=74636424)

- [Heathrow Airport — Airline contact info: Cathay Pacific Airways](https://www.heathrow.com/airline-contact-info/cathay-pacific-airways)

- [Cathay Pacific Airways Limited — General Conditions of Carriage for Cargo, gueltig ab 28.12.2024](https://www.cathaycargo.com/content/dam/cargo/cargo_site_visuals/help-and-support/terms-and-conditions/20241228_CX-GCC_final.pdf)

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