Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.

In 1946, two former air force pilots, American Roy Farrell and Australian Sydney de Kantzow, saw an opportunity in post-war Asia. They started with a single Douglas DC-3, nicknamed 'Betsy,' flying goods between Australia and China. After relocating to Hong Kong, they officially founded Cathay Pacific, a name born from the ambition to one day fly across the Pacific Ocean. The airline grew steadily, and in 1948, the major Hong Kong trading company Butterfield & Swire (now Swire Group) acquired a 45% stake, taking over management. This backing provided stability and resources for expansion. By 1959, Cathay Pacific had acquired its rival, Hong Kong Airways, and in the 1960s, it entered the jet age with the Convair 880, achieving an all-jet fleet by 1967. A pivotal moment came in 1986 when the company went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This event solidified its financial standing and fueled further growth. Another significant move was the 2006 acquisition of its local rival, Dragonair. This strategic purchase gave Cathay Pacific extensive access to the rapidly growing mainland China market. For years, Dragonair operated as a separate brand, later renamed Cathay Dragon, before its operations were fully merged into Cathay Pacific in 2020 amid the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic.