Cathay’s Airbus A350 passenger aircraft, adorned with its classic “lettuce leaf sandwich” livery, touched down at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport for the first time today, marking a special moment in Cathay’s “80 Years Together” anniversary celebrations. Paying homage to the much-loved green-and-white striped design, the iconic livery honours Cathay’s earlier years and the legacy it has built over eight decades. The debut appearance in Hanoi, Vietnam marks another milestone in showcasing Cathay’s heritage in a dynamic market in Southeast Asia.

“Vietnam has been part of Cathay’s journey since 1949, with the inaugural flights arriving in Ho Chi Minh City (then Saigon) and Hai Phong in November that year. Vietnam continues to be an important Southeast Asia market for Cathay,” said Kelly Tsang, Area Head Cambodia Thailand Vietnam from Cathay. She continued, “The special livery honours Cathay’s legacy while symbolising our continued progress to connecting the world via our Hong Kong hub. Seeing it here in Vietnam today is a meaningful reminder of how far we have come—made possible with the dedication of our people, the loyalty of our customers, the support of our partners, and the communities we are proud to serve, including here in Vietnam.”

The occasion also highlights Cathay’s longstanding presence in Vietnam. Today, Cathay Pacific connects travellers from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to Hong Kong with 35 flights per week, providing customers with seamless connections to more than 100 destinations worldwide.

During the event, flight CX741, operated by the special-liveried aircraft, landed at Noi Bai International Airport Terminal 2, where it was greeted by special guests and Cathay representatives. The aircraft will continue to operate on international routes throughout 2026, extending Cathay's "80 Years Together" anniversary celebrations to more customers and communities worldwide.

In addition to the Airbus A350-900, Cathay has also launched two other special-liveried aircraft to mark its 80th anniversary—a Boeing 747-8F freighter also adorned with the distinctive “lettuce leaf sandwich’ livery, as well as an art-inspired aircraft livery, “Spirit of Hong Kong – 80th Anniversary Edition”, on a Boeing 777-300ER. The latter was unveiled together with the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, underscoring Cathay’s commitment to supporting local cultural creativity and elevating the city’s arts and culture on the global stage.

Cabin crew donning Cathay Pacific’s vintage uniforms through various design eras are also making special appearances on flights, paying tribute to the generations of people who have defined the signature Cathay service in the skies. Throughout 2026, around 2,000 of Cathay’s cabin crew and ground employees will wear and showcase these vintage uniforms at work, bringing the evolution of the Cathay brand to life in true Cathay fashion.

Cathay will continue to roll out a range of celebrations, experiences and initiatives throughout 2026, celebrating the people, partnerships and journeys that have shaped its story. ​ For more information, visit this link.

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