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Cathay Pacific Cargo’s teams across South East Asia have held appreciation events to thank customers for their business over the past two years – and in person, as restrictions around the pandemic recede.

Events took place across May and June in Manila and Cebu in the Philippines, Penang and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam, Phnom Penh in Cambodia, as well as Bangkok, Singapore and Jakarta – all of which are back on Cathay Pacific’s network. Most took the form of dinners where representatives from the regions’ top agents were able to meet with Cathay Pacific Cargo colleagues, who presented the top-performing forwarders with ‘Golden Brushwing’ Top Cargo Agent Awards to recognise their loyalty and volume of business.

‘It was great to finally be able to hold these appreciation events again after a two-year hiatus,’ said Siddhant Iyer, Regional Head of Cargo, South East Asia. ‘With borders opening and relaxations to social distancing in place, it was an opportune time to hold these face-to-face events again and thank our partners in person.

‘The invitations were extended to our top customers by revenue in 2021 at each port. Altogether around 200 agents attended, and approximately 100 awards were presented,’ added Iyer.

2021 was a record year for Cathay Pacific Cargo across the South East Asia region in terms of revenue, with an increase of 31.8 per cent compared to 2020, despite the interruptions to normal service because of the pandemic. Cathay Pacific Cargo operated around 3,850 flights out of South East Asia, including 380 freighter flights and 3,470 passenger aircraft flights, of which approximately 70 per cent were cargo-only passenger flights (COPs).

‘Even with our reduced passenger schedules, we placed continued focus on reinstating ad hoc COPs throughout the year in order to meet market demand and serve our customers in each of our respective markets,’ said Iyer. ‘We operated significant volumes of charter business from the region to the Americas, especially from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam – including cabin load charters in our Boeing 777 converted aircraft with passenger seats removed.’

Cargo Sales Executive Meanne Belostrino, who co-organised the event with the Manila team for the city’s agents, said that events were small but enjoyable because of the opportunity to actually meet up again. ‘We reserved 30 seats for a very casual dinner with our agent friends, but for me this is one of the memorable events in my almost 20 years with Cathay,’ she said.

Top photo: Cathay Pacific Cargo Indonesia team celebrate with award-winning EFL Global in Jakarta.