There could hardly have been a more fitting place for Cathay Pacific to celebrate its 80th anniversary than The Manila Hotel.
Eight decades after the airline first flew to Manila, Cathay returned to the historic hotel on September 3, 2026, for an evening that was as much about looking back as it was about looking ahead.
The choice of venue carried a particularly meaningful connection. It was at The Manila Hotel’s Tropicana Bar that the name ‘Cathay Pacific’ is widely believed to have been coined by one of the airline’s founders. A commemorative plaque unveiled during the gala will now permanently mark the hotel’s place in Cathay’s history.
It was, in many ways, a return to the beginning.
When Cathay Pacific made its first commercial flight to Manila in November 1946, the airline was still in its infancy. Its founders had just one aircraft and an ambitious dream of eventually flying across the Pacific.
Eight decades later, that dream has grown into a global travel brand, but its purpose remains much the same.
‘It’s not just Cathay’s 80th birthday, but it’s a journey that you shared with us,’ said Lavinia Lau, Cathay’s Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, during the gala. She noted that through eight decades of change, the company’s purpose has remained focused on moving people forward in life by connecting them to meaningful people, places and experiences.
The Philippines, meanwhile, has been part of that journey almost from the very start. Manila was among Cathay’s first destinations in 1946, establishing a relationship that has continued to grow over the decades.
‘The Philippines holds a special place in Cathay’s history and in the journeys of so many of our customers,’ said Vishnu Rajendran, Cathay Country Head for the Philippines.
For Rajendran, that relationship goes beyond routes and destinations. Cathay’s connection with the country has been built through generations of customers, business partners, airport partners, government stakeholders, and corporate clients.
‘There is a genuine sense of partnership that has contributed to our success,’ he said, thanking Filipinos for the trust and support they have extended to Cathay over the years.
A journey through the years
More than 200 guests gathered for the ’80 Years Together’ celebration, including government representatives, business partners, Cathay members, media, and other stakeholders.
The airline also brought its history to life through a ‘Runway of Eras,’ with cabin crew modeling vintage uniforms from different periods of Cathay’s history. The fashion showcase offered a stylish glimpse at how the airline’s identity has evolved over the decades.
A shadow-play performance by Asia’s Got Talent winner El Gamma Penumbra likewise interpreted Cathay’s 80-year journey through the arts.
The next chapter
But the evening was not simply about nostalgia.
Lau outlined Cathay’s plans for the years ahead, including continued investment in customer experience, new aircraft and network expansion. The airline plans to take delivery of 150 new aircraft over the next decade and grow its network from more than 100 destinations to 150.
The Philippines will remain an important part of that future. Cathay and its sister airlines currently connect Filipino travelers to destinations around the world, supporting journeys for education, business, tourism, employment and family reunions, while also facilitating cargo, investment and trade.
For Lau, the journey ahead is ultimately about continuing to make travel more meaningful for the people Cathay serves.
For Rajendran, it is about continuing a relationship that began almost at the same time as the airline itself.
That made Manila an especially appropriate place to celebrate 80 years.
From a single aircraft in 1946 to a global travel brand today, Cathay Pacific has traveled a remarkable distance. And eight decades later, it returned to a hotel where its name is said to have been born, celebrating the people and partnerships that have been part of its journey.
In Manila, where an important chapter of its story began, Cathay Pacific celebrated 80 years together-and looked ahead to the next 80.