Hong Kong – Cathay marked a nostalgic return to Kai Tak on the final day of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, staging a low-altitude flypast to celebrate the former airport’s 100th anniversary and the tournament’s debut at Kai Tak Sports Park.
For decades, Kai Tak served as Hong Kong’s international gateway, famed for its challenging 47-degree turn at 700 feet—one of the most difficult airport approaches in the world. Pilots were required to navigate between high-rise buildings, a spectacle that drew global attention until the airport’s closure in 1998.
“Everyone remembers the stories of Cathay Pacific’s aircraft flying in and out of Kai Tak. So we turned the nostalgia into an event to get the world talking about the Sevens, held for the first time at the new Kai Tak Sports Park,” said Edward Bell, general manager for brand, insights and marketing communications at Cathay.
After 27 years, Cathay Pacific returned to Kai Tak with flight CX8100—named in honour of Kai Tak’s 100th anniversary. The aircraft took off from Hong Kong International Airport around 4pm on Sunday, March 30, flying past Central, Wan Chai, Kai Tak, North Point, and through Victoria Harbour in a dramatic recreation of aviation history.
To enable the flypast, Cathay collaborated with the Hong Kong SAR Government to create a temporary restricted flying zone over Victoria Harbour. Publicis Groupe Hong Kong then brought in veteran aviation photographers—renowned for capturing Cathay’s iconic Kai Tak landings—to document the moment. Their images and live-streamed footage of CX8100 are now being shared widely across the globe and Cathay’s social channels.
Cathay has also released a short documentary-style video offering a behind-the-scenes look at the planning and preparation behind Flight CX8100’s historic flypast over Kai Tak.
“Creating a live performance of an aircraft flying past Kai Tak seemed like an audacious feat. But together with the team at Cathay, we worked hard to plan an experience that everyone at this year’s Hong Kong Sevens final will remember. Hopefully for years to come,” shared Christopher Lee, chief creative officer at Publicis Groupe Hong Kong.
Cathay is the exclusive founding travel partner of Kai Tak Sports Park, supporting the venue’s efforts to promote sports, arts, and culture in Hong Kong. The partnership aims to attract global visitors through immersive experiences that highlight the city’s international appeal.
