Aviation of the aviation futures: Cathay Pacific celebrates the pioneering pilot closure with elite in-house training fracture

On May 16, 2025, Cathay Pacific was a historic milestone in his Kadett pilot training program -with the completion of 34 cadet pilots, the first cohort to fully received its basic theory lessons from the airline’s Cathay Academy.

This progress increases Cathay Pacific’s longstanding commitment to the training and development of aviation talents to support the Hong Kong strategic status as a global aviation center.

The graduation ceremony was visited by high -ranking aviation officers and marked a turning point in the integrated training model of the airline.

This performance also reflects broader strategies for the air travel workforce, which are funded by the Hong Kong transport and logistics office and the department for civil aviation.

Internal training at the Cathay Academy improves quality and cohesion

The inclusion of the soil theory training at Cathay Academy is a shift in how pilot education is conducted in the region. The theoretical lessons were previously carried out in cooperation with academic institutions by third -party providers.

Now, with an internal solution, the airline has strengthened control of curriculum design, teaching standards and direct mentoring.

This optimized training structure corresponds to the global best practices for aviation training by offering cadets a coherent training experience from the classroom to cockpit.

It complements the government of the special region of the special region in Hong Kong, which emphasizes the local reinforcement of the capacity structure and the talent pipeline.

Comprehensive multi -stage training model

Cathay Pacific’s current pilot training structure follows a multi -stage model with several locations. After completing your land school in the Cathay Academy in Hong Kong, the cadet pilots of certified overseas flight academies are trained in primary flight. The two designated training partners include:

• Aeroguard Flight Training Center in Arizona, USA
• Flight training Adelaide in Adelaide, Australia

After completing the primary flight instructions, the cadets return to Hong Kong to get a simulator simulator training of multi-crew cooperation (MCC) at the Cathay Academy. The simulators reflect real aircraft systems, crew dynamics and the standard operating processes, which correspond to the regulatory framework for the civil air department in Hong Kong.

This integrated approach guarantees the consistency in the training method, adheres to security standards that have been determined by international civil aviation authorities, and prepares cadets for real commercial operations.

A legacy of pilot development since 1988

The Cadet Pilot training program from Cathay Pacific has been a cornerstone of his talent development strategy since its foundation in 1988.

In the past three decades, the program has produced more than 1,000 trained cadets, many of which have played an important role in flight operations and flight lines.

Among these graduates:

• 185 went into the rank of a captain
• Over 40 now serve as training captains
• Seven are currently management pilots

This track record reflects the consistent investment of Cathay in Human Capital and its emphasis on creating career ascent paths within the aviation sector.

A growing cadet program that supports the aviation goals in Hong Kong

From May 2025, Cathay Pacific has more than 500 cadet pilots that are actively developing in different phases of the program. In the course of the year, the airline would like to stop more than 130 new cadet pilots in line with its growth forecasts and fleet development plans.

This initiative complements strategic goals that were determined in the development of International Aviation Hub Development Blueprint in Hong Kong and that emphasize the cultivation of experts and technical specialists for specialist air trips. The blueprint recognizes pilot training as essential for the support of security, efficiency and competitiveness of aviation.

Support of the government and public-private cooperation

The graduation event was supported by the civil airfares and the transport and logistics office, which increased the importance of public-private cooperation in promoting the infrastructure of aviation lessons in Hong Kong.

The integration of internal training into the Cathay Academy also supports the goals of the Hong Kong Smart Airport Vision, which promotes local innovations into aviation systems, training methods and operating technologies.

Cathay Pacific invests in domestic training facilities and the improvement of the pipelines for professional development and contributes to Hong Kong’s position as a sustainable, independent aviation center.

International standards and accreditation

Cathay Pacific’s training framework keeps the globally recognized Aviation Training standards, including that of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department.

The structured cadet training sequence includes:

• Theoretical knowledge lessons (Base School)
• One-engine and multi-motier flight training (Primary flight phase)
• Multi-crew cooperation training (Advanced flight simulation phase)
• Enter evaluation training (Before the operating second officer)

Each phase is monitored in compliance with the regulations for aviation safety, teaching quality and performance benchmarking to ensure that graduates meet the strict requirements for commercial flight operations.

Improvement of the Status of Hong Kong as a global aircraft center

The milestone for the Cadet degree of Cathay Pacific contributes to the development of the aviation sector in Hong Kong under its long-term strategy for infrastructure and economic diversification. The initiative also improves Hong Kong’s reputation as a reliable center for aviation training in the Asian-Pacific region.

With continued investments in local training resources, including advanced simulators and aviation learning modules, Cathay Pacific not only improves pilot competence, but also contributes to the resilience of Hong Kong in the future scenarios for global travel cuts.

Look ahead: Further investments in training and development

In response to future operational needs and developments in the industry, Cathay Pacific plans to further expand his training systems, to improve digital learning platforms and to offer cadets to extended mentoring programs.

Since the commercial aviation and the industry are preparing for growth, the airline is still obliged to procure, training and bond qualified pilot candidates. The program also focuses on promoting diversity with constant efforts in order to recruit aspiring planes from a variety of educational and professional backgrounds.

The holistic development of the aviation talent remains the core of Cathay Pacific’s strategic vision and positions the airline for long -term operational excellence and leadership in aviation services.

The Cathay Pacific 2025 cadet degree is more than a milestone for the airline. It reflects the strength of the aviation ecosystem in Hong Kong and the effectiveness of strategic workforce development in a top-class, safety-sensitive sector.

By integrating soil theory lessons at Cathay Academy, the airline has set a new benchmark for internal aviation training in the region. This development, which is supported by the national aviation authorities, confirms the continued rise of Hong Kong as the center for technical innovation and educational points of aviation.

With hundreds of cadets in the pipeline and the continued cooperation with government agencies, Cathay Pacific is still permanently positioned to meet future aviation demand, to contribute to regional growth and inspire a new generation of pilots across Asia.