Cathay Cargo will operate from new modern terminal with freighter parking bays that will add more resilience to winter weather operations.
Cathay Cargo has announced a long-term agreement with NorthLink Aviation (“NorthLink”) to use NorthLink’s “state-of-the-art” air-cargo terminal and aircraft stands at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, scheduled to start from October 2025. This investment in the airport that serves as a vital technical stop for its transpacific Boeing 747 freighter and cargo operations will strengthen Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub.
The new deal will grant Cathay Cargo access to cargo terminal capacity with customs clearance for cargo entering the United States, 11 power-through hardstands for aircraft to park and depart without ground-tug assistance, and four additional push-back hardstands. Each of the parking stands will offer dual-hydrant fueling systems, lighting towers for enhanced ground safety and ground power systems that will use renewable energy. Importantly for winter operations there will be infrastructure in place to support the recovery and recycling of de-icing fluid.
The access to guaranteed stand parking will help minimise disruption and strengthen schedule resilience during periods of intense winter weather that are inevitable for operations at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Cathay Cargo currently uses stands provided by the airport authority that are shared with other carriers operating to/from Anchorage. During disruptions that are typically caused by inclement weather, these stands can become occupied and blocked leading to diversions and flight cancellations.
This agreement also enhances the safety of Cathay Cargo’s employees and reflects Cathay Cargo’s commitment to sustainability, with the collection and recycling of the de-icing fluid used on the stands prior to departure. This initiative will prevent de-icing fluid from entering the important environmental waters of the Cook Inlet.
Tom Owen, Cathay Director Cargo, said: “Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport has been a cornerstone in Cathay Cargo’s successful transpacific operations over many decades, serving as a stopover for our freighters en route to and from the Americas. Our partnership with NorthLink further strengthens Anchorage’s strategic significance within our network. Leveraging NorthLink’s privately developed stands through this long-term agreement helps Cathay Cargo address the challenges posed by severe winter storms by ensuring dedicated gate access is available and offering a dependable supply of hard stand parking spaces, thereby enhancing operational resilience and service reliability for our customers’ shipments.”
Sean Dolan, Chief Executive Officer of NorthLink Aviation, said: “NorthLink is honoured to establish a long-term relationship with Cathay Cargo and provide the infrastructure needed to support the continued growth of the airline’s transpacific operations. NorthLink intends to not only provide world-class infrastructure, but partner in helping Cathay Cargo expand commercial opportunities and capture sustainability gains at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.”
NorthLink is backed by Tiger Infrastructure Partners, a leading infrastructure investor focused on growth-oriented platforms in the middle market.
Cathay Cargo is the airfreight business division of the Cathay Group and one of the leading air cargo operators in the world, operating from its hub in Hong Kong. Cathay Cargo provides services to more than 94 cargo destinations around the world, operating a dedicated freighter fleet of 14 Boeing 747-8F and six 747-400ERFs (Extended Range Freighter) aircraft, in addition to cargo space on Cathay Pacific’s large fleet of passenger aircraft. The Cargo division also includes Air Hong Kong, an express cargo carrier operating in partnership with DHL, and manages Cathay Cargo Terminal at Hong Kong International Airport. It is also the cargo general sales agent for the Cathay Group’s low-cost carrier HK Express. Cathay is a member of the Swire Group and is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE).
