Cathay Pacific to buy budget airline HK Express for $628 mn

Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific said yesterday it will buy budget airline HK Express for more than US$600 million as it moves to counter competition from the increasing number of low-cost carriers in the region. The move is its first foray into the budget sector and will leave Cathay controlling three of the four airlines at one of Asia’s busiest airports at a time of huge growth in the region’s air industry.

It comes weeks after the carrier said it had swung back into the black in 2018 following two years of losses and will help ease concerns after an embarrassing data breach that dented the firm’s reputation and could prove costly. “HK Express captures a unique market segment,” Cathay said in a statement. “This represents an attractive and practical way for the Cathay Group to support the longterm development and growth of our aviation business and to enhance the competitiveness of the Hong Kong hub during a time of intense regional competition.”

Cathay will stump up HK$4.93 billion (US$628.15 million) for the airline in a deal that is expected to be completed by December, according to a filing announcement. The firm said it will continue to operate HK Express as a “standalone airline using the low-cost carrier business model”. “The transaction is expected to generate synergies as the businesses and business models of Cathay Pacific and HKE are largely complementary,” it added.

Cathay shares rose almost three percent after the announcement but later retreated to end the day almost 2.5 percent lower at HK$13.34. HK Express is the city’s sole budget carrier -- a sector that premium-focused Cathay has struggled to compete against despite rivals such as Singapore Airlines making inroads years ago.