How The Heck Did Cathay Pacific...

Cathay Pacific recently hit the headlines when a three-year-old boy was allegedly served white wine instead of water onboard a flight from Hong Kong to London. The oneworld carrier, based at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), has since issued a response to the incident.

IATA/ICAO Code

CX/CPA

Year Founded

1946

In this article, we look at the incident in more detail, the response from Cathay Pacific, and explore the effects of drinking alcohol onboard an aircraft.

What Happened?

According to a report by FTN News, the alleged incident took place on a flight from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on April 24. This was one of five Cathay Pacific flights operating between the two cities that day.

The three-year-old passenger was allegedly served a full glass of white wine by mistake instead of the water his parents had ordered. The mix-up only became apparent when the boy had a sip of the drink and then told his father that it tasted sour.

The onboard cabin crew were quick to exchange the wine for a glass of water, but according to the report, did not initially offer any form of medical assistance to assess the boy. Instead, a doctor who was traveling onboard as a passenger was able to reassure the parents and confirm that the boy was not displaying any symptoms.

You might also like:

Cathay Pacific Reports Strong 2024 With Higher Passenger Numbers

However, Cathay Pacific warned about the potential implications of trade conflicts originating in other countries in 2025.

The Response From Cathay Pacific

After the boy’s parents took to social media to make their complaint public, Cathay Pacific sent them an email to apologize for the incident and to offer a full refund for their flight tickets. The carrier also agreed to cover the costs of any incident-related medical costs, and by way of compensation, compensate the family with three one-class upgrade vouchers for use on a future flight. For example, these could be used to upgrade to Cathay Pacific’s new Aria business class product.

To highlight the seriousness of the incident, the child’s parents have also filed complaints with a number of authorities, including the Civil Aviation Department, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office, the Consumer Council, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

You might also like:

The 12 Longest Nonstop Routes At Hong Kong International Airport

The longest nonstop route from Hong Kong International Airport comes in at 8,120 miles long.

The Effects Of Drinking Alcohol Onboard

Many passengers choose to enjoy an alcoholic drink when flying, with some airlines offering complimentary beverages, particularly full-service airlines and those offering a first and business class product. However, the impacts of consuming alcohol onboard a flight can be more severe than those when drinking on the ground.

Among the possible effects of drinking alcohol on an aircraft are:

• Dehydration
• Reduced blood oxygen levels
• Increased heart rate
• Potentially faster intoxication
• Impaired sleep and reduced mobility.

As reported by FTN News, Dr Herbert Kwok Wang-Chun, the Vice President of the Hong Kong Public Doctors’ Association, said that the health risk to the child was low in this particular incident, adding,

“It depends on how much alcohol he drank. If the intake is high, it will depend on whether he suffers any discomfort such as falling unconscious, dizziness or vomit. Since the boy was fine during the journey, the risk of alcohol poisoning seems low.”

You might also like:

Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1000 Economy Vs Premium Economy: Features Compared

How to decide whether to splash out on Premium Economy or stick with Economy on Cathay A350 long haul routes.

All About Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific is the flag carrier of Hong Kong and is based at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). The airline was founded in September 1946 and today operates a fleet of more than 150 aircraft to over 80 destinations around the world.

Cathay Pacific was one of the founding members of the oneworld Alliance in February 1999, along with:

• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Canadian Airlines
• Qantas.

The oneworld alliance has since grown to include 14 full member airlines and 16 affiliate members. The newest member will soon be Starlux Airlines, which is expected to join the alliance before the end of 2025. Today, Cathay Pacific’s major shareholders are currently Swire Pacific (45%), Air China (30%), and Qatar Airways (9.9%).

You might also like:

How Much Has Cathay Pacific’s Livery Changed Over The Years?

Cathay Pacific is one of the oldest airlines in Asia, and its livery has evolved and changed considerably over the years.

Cathay Pacific’s Fleet

Cathay Pacific currently has a fleet of 154 passenger aircraft. According to the latest data from ch-aviation, the carrier’s fleet is made up of the following aircraft:

Cathay Pacific also has more than 60 aircraft on order, awaiting delivery. This includes 4 Airbus A321neos, 30 Airbus A330-900s, and 21 Boeing 777-9s. The carrier is expected to begin receiving its first Boeing 777-9s in 2027, although with the 777X program already delayed by several years, it remains to be seen if this will happen or if it will be pushed back further.

You might also like:

Cathay Pacific Pushes Boeing 777-9 Delivery Timeline To 2027 Delaying New First Class Debut

The Hong Kong airline expects to receive the Boeing 777X in 2027 or even later.

Hong Kong to London

In 2024, Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) was the 18th-busiest international destination from London Heathrow Airport (LHR), with more than 1,135,000 passengers flying directly between the two cities. For comparison, the three busiest international routes from the UK’s largest airport were:

1. New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) – 3,238,000 passengers
2. Dubai International Airport (DXB) – 2,856,000 passengers
3. Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) – 2,006,000 passengers
4. Dublin Airport (DUB) – 1,902,000 passengers
5. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – 1,679,000 passengers.

Cathay Pacific operates up to five flights per day from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), three of which are flown with the Boeing 777-300ER and two with the Airbus A350-900. The carrier’s current flight schedule between the two cities is outlined in the table below:

Cathay Pacific faces direct competition on its route between Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) from British Airways, which currently operates one daily flight with its Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Virgin Atlantic used to connect the two cities with its Boeing 787-9s, but ended the route several years ago.

You might also like:

Up To 16h 40m: This Airline’s New Very Long Airbus A350 Flights To The US

Cathay Pacific has up to 18 daily passenger flights to North America.

An Embarrassing Incident For Cathay Pacific

This alleged incident proved to be embarrassing for Cathay Pacific, with the child’s parents taking to social media to raise their concerns. It was also, most likely, a distressing situation for the child’s parents, with concerns about the three-year-old’s medical welfare and the longer-term impacts that any alcohol consumption may have had.

While it may be an easy mistake to make, extra vigilance throughout the onboard service can ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future. The onboard service recovery and the response from the airline are also crucial in the overall handling of the case.

You might also like:

Cathay Pacific: 5 Fast Facts About Hong Kong’s Flag Carrier

Cathay Pacific was founded post-WWII and remains the flag carrier and pride of Hong Kong today.