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<p><em>The Hong Kong flag carrier is ushering in its 80th anniversary with the return of retro designs and features.</em></p>
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				A picture of a Cathay Pacific plane with 80 year logo.
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				Two Cathay Pacific planes fly side by side.
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<p>Chances are, you’ve flown aboard a Cathay Pacific aircraft. It’s an experience that has defined many cross-regional journeys from Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, and beyond—from the fragrant, nutty aroma of signature <em>dan dan</em> noodles, routinely enjoyed pre-flight in the comfort of plush, award-winning lounges, to the familiar twinkling of the in-flight jingle, or the mid-flight snaps of the iconic jade green brushwing logo floating among fluffy clouds.</p>
<p>This year, the Hong Kong flag carrier will mark 80 years since the launch of its inaugural freighter flight one Tuesday in September 1946, which took off from Sydney to Hong Kong. The airline’s new “80 Years Together” campaign is a commemorative look back at Cathay Pacific’s momentous journey into becoming one of Asia’s most well-loved airlines, fueled by the revival of visual motifs that shaped the global brand.</p>
<p>One such return is the unveiling of special aircraft liveries. Perhaps one of the most recognized in Hong Kong’s collective memory—helpfully jogged by hazy photographs of the low, nail-biting landings at the old Kai Tak Airport—is the retro “lettuce-leaf sandwich” paint scheme used from 1971 to 1994. It refers to the alternating green-and-white stripes on the tail fin of previous Lockheed and Boeing planes that, for some, resembled stacked lettuce leaves.</p>
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				Celebratory gifts to mark Cathay Pacific&#8217;s 80th anniversary.
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<p>Reissued with the accompanying bold red, upper-case nameplate, the motif is modified to include an “80” stamp on a long-haul Airbus A350 passenger aircraft and a soon-to-come second Boeing B747 freighter, scheduled for various flight routes over the next couple of years (the inaugural A350 flight with this special anniversary livery recently flew to San Francisco).</p>
<p>On board, flight services are looking a tad different with vintage cabin crew uniforms on selected routes, worn in rotation by cabin crew and ground staff members. The designs document the evolution of the airline’s style in various cuts and colors, with pieces that once featured the handiwork of top designers, including Hermes, Nina Ricci, and Pierre Balmain. The uniform’s latest iteration is based on a redesign by Hong Kong designer Eddie Lau.</p>
<p>And there’s more to come yet with an impressive HK$100 billion investment, starting with the reopening of first-class lounge The Wing due in April. For now, look out for the return of another special livery for even more of a nostalgic throwback, soon to be launched later in the year.</p>


Taking Flight: Cathay Pacific Celebrates 80 Years in the Skies