Cathay launches ‘80 Years Together’ anniversary celebrations to mark eight decades of flying forward

Cathay is kicking off 2026 with the official launch of its 80th anniversary celebrations, commemorating eight decades of connecting its home city, people and customers around the world since its founding in 1946. Anchored by the unifying theme “80 Years Together”, the milestone year will be marked by a series of special events, initiatives and activations rolling out throughout 2026.

Setting the tone for the celebrations, Cathay unveiled a special anniversary aircraft livery on one of its long-haul Airbus A350 passenger aircraft. The design features the airline’s iconic “lettuce leaf sandwich” motif alongside the 80th anniversary year mark, paying tribute to the much-loved green-and-white striped paint scheme that forms a memorable part of Cathay’s heritage. At the same time, the livery symbolises the airline’s continued growth and progress. A second aircraft featuring the “lettuce leaf sandwich” design will be revealed in the coming weeks on one of Cathay’s Boeing 747 freighters.

Adding a nostalgic touch to the launch, cabin crew appeared in vintage Cathay Pacific uniforms from different design eras, celebrating the generations of people who have shaped the airline’s signature service in the skies. Throughout 2026, around 1,000 to 2,000 cabin crew and ground employees will don and showcase these vintage uniforms at work, bringing the evolution of the Cathay brand to life for customers.

Customers can also look forward to a specially curated merchandise collection inspired by the anniversary liveries and iconic designs from Cathay’s storied past. Reimagined across aviation, travel and everyday lifestyle items, the collection offers fans and frequent flyers a tangible way to celebrate the airline’s legacy.