Flight Review: Cathay Pacific 747-400 Farewell Flight, from Tokyo to Hong Kong

Flight Review: Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-400 Tokyo Haneda to Hong Kong

(Flown on October 1, 2016)

Last October, I had the chance to take the last Cathay Boeing 747 scheduled passenger flight. Cathay Pacific made sure the Queen of the Skies was sent off in style, and so the flight was well worth taking. My report about the flight has been featured in Airliner World magazine a couple of months ago.

Now, you can also enjoy it below.

Cathay Pacific and the 747

When Cathay Pacific Airways received its first Boeing 747, a 747-267B (VR-HKG, cn 21746), in 1979, it was a regional carrier connecting Hong Kong with other Asian cities and with Australia. With the opening of its route to London in 1980, Cathay Pacific started its transformation into a global airline.

Within a decade, routes to Frankfurt, San Francisco, Vancouver, Paris, and other European and North American destinations followed. It goes without saying that this expansion was enabled by the 747. Over the next decades, the 747 turned into the backbone of Cathay Pacific’s global expansion and its long-haul fleet.

Cathay Pacific 747

The Cathay Pacific Jumbo used to be a regular sight at many Japanese airports.
Cathay Pacific 747

Cathay Pacific’s 747 freighter landing at Milan Malpensa back in 2007.

From 1979 to date, Cathay Pacific has operated over a hundred 747 airframes, ranging from the classic “-200” all the way to the latest “-8” version, in both passenger and cargo configurations.However, with a growing need for aircraft smaller and more economic than the four-engine Jumbo Jet, the aircraft type that helped transform the airline was set to be phased out in 2016 – at least in its passenger form.

Flight CX543 from Tokyo Haneda was set as the last revenue flight of the type, and its arrival in Hong Kong at 3:04PM on October 1, 2016, marked the end of an era for Cathay Pacific. A week later, the aircraft flew a special farewell charity flight for the airline’s employees before being phased out completely.

Cathay Pacific 747

The aircraft used to overnight at Haneda before the CX543 flight.

Sayonara, Cathay Pacific 747!

When I arrived at Haneda airport shortly after seven on October 1, 2016, the check-in for CX543 was still closed, but there was already a line of passengers waiting. At 7:35AM, exactly three hours before the scheduled departure time, the passengers, largely consisting of enthusiasts, started to be processed.

As soon as I received my boarding pass, I headed directly to the flight’s departure gate, gate 142. At the gate, B-HUJ (cn 27595), the 747-467 that would have the honor of operating the historic flight and that arrived at Haneda as CX542 from Hong Kong the day before, was already present in all its glory.

Cathay Pacific 747

Checking-in for the flight shortly before 8AM.
Cathay Pacific 747

The final flight was operated by a 747 registered B-HUJ.

Inside the terminal, more and more passengers started arriving at the gate, taking photos of the aircraft and enjoying the complimentary drinks to celebrate the occasion. Outside on the apron, a group of winners of a social media contest was given a chance to explore the aircraft from up close one last time.

Cathay Pacific 747

Cathay Pacific provided complimentary drinks at the gate.
Cathay Pacific 747

Winners of a social media contest had a chance to see the aircraft from up close.
Cathay Pacific 747

Me together with a poster that Cathay Pacific prepared for the occassion.

Shortly before nine, the operating crew started arriving at the gate together with four cabin crew ambassadors each wearing a different uniform from the Cathay Pacific Airways’ 747 era. A photo session with the ambassadors followed before the farewell event was officially kicked off.

Cathay Pacific 747

Posing in front of the star of the day with fellow enthusiasts.
Cathay Pacific 747

One of the cabin crew members posing with the Queen of the Skies.
Cathay Pacific 747

Four cabin crew ambassadors wearing four different historic uniforms that were used by Cathay Pacific during its Boeing 747 era.

First, the general manager of Cathay Pacific’s Japan office, Lionel Kwok, handed bouquets to the flight’s two key crew members: Captain John Graham and Inflight Service Manager Chaivaree Chitrakorn.

Next, it was the general manager’s turn to address the crowd and praise the Queen of the Skies.

How many of you dreamt of traveling the globe when you were a kid? I did. And this aircraft made my dream come true. And looking back, how many times have this aircraft brought us to unknown horizons, life adventures, new career heights, success, or even sometimes, failure.

At the end of his speech, he invited Higashi Ihoto, a Japanese engineer who was part of the team that delivered the airline’s first 747-400 back in 1989, to the stage to thank him for his service. Coincidentally, Mr. Ihoto retired a week after our flight following 44 years of service with the airline.

Cathay Pacific 747

Captain John Graham with his bouquet.
Cathay Pacific 747

Mr. Ihoto receiving a bouquet on the stage.
Cathay Pacific 747

Lionel Kwok – the general manager of Cathay Pacific’s Japan office – giving a speech to passengers of the special flight.

The event was finished off with yet another photo session before the crew headed onboard to prepare for the flight. Cathay Pacific’s team even prepared signs with captions such as “Queen of the Skies” and “Farewell 747” that the passengers could hold while taking photos with the crew and the aircraft.

Cathay Pacific 747

The entire crew of the flight posing together with the general manager.

Onboard the Final Jumbo Flight

During boarding, which commenced a couple of minutes after ten, the four cabin crew ambassadors were handing gift bags to the passengers. Inside the Cathay-green bag was a nicely designed gift box with a flight certificate, a key holder and a notepad.

Cathay Pacific 747

Boarding of the last Cathay Pacific 747 passenger revenue flight in progress.
Cathay Pacific 747

It was not only the final call for flight CX543….
Cathay Pacific 747

Cabin crew ambassadors handing out gift bags.

With a boarding pass stub and the gift bag in my hands, I headed down the jet bridge to board a Cathay Pacific 747 for my second and last time. When I got onboard, many of the passengers were already walking around the cabin, taking photos and recording the announcements.

Soon, however, everyone settled in their seats allowing for a pushback at 10:35AM – exactly on time. A short taxi to runway 05 followed before the four Rolls-Royce RB211 engines spooled up and lifted the Cathay Pacific Jumbo into the Tokyo skies one last time at 11:02AM.

As soon as the seatbelt signs were switched off, it was back to “party mode.” Passengers left their seats to hand their log books and certificates to the crew for signing, to take photos of every nook and cranny of the aircraft and to just enjoy their moments onboard the Queen of the Skies.

Cathay Pacific 747

Two of the passengers recording announcements.
Cathay Pacific 747

Posing in front of the cabin filled (mainly) with enthusiasts.

The aisles were, in fact, so clogged by excited enthusiasts that it was impossible for the cabin crew to do the meal service. With requests from the cabin crew not being enough, Captain Graham came on the PA soon in a friendly, yet authoritative way: “I don’t want to put the seatbelt sign on, but could you please sit down for 30 minutes so that the crew can serve you some meal?”

In no time, majority of the passengers were in their seats having their choice of chicken or fish. My choice, Chinese-style chicken dish with rice, was tasty and came in a large portion which was more than enough to fill a passenger on a four-hour flight.

Cathay Pacific 747

In-flight meal.

After finishing off the meal with a dessert, it was time to enjoy the flight itself again. I headed to the back of the aircraft where I joined a group of other enthusiasts who were taking a look at the crew rest located above the cabin.

Cathay Pacific 747

Economy class seats.
Cathay Pacific 747

Inside crew rest.
Cathay Pacific 747

One of the cabin crew checking on us.

Over the entire cabin, enthusiasts were spread out and surrounding the cabin crew members with cameras. Chaivaree, the Inflight Service Manager, summarized it very well when she said “now I know, how movie stars feel,” while being photographed by me and a dozen other passengers.

Cathay Pacific 747

The Inflight Service Manager, Ms. Chaivaree.
Cathay Pacific 747

The four cabin crew ambassadors posed for photos throughout the flight.
Cathay Pacific 747

A nice view of two of the four Rolls-Royce engines through L2 door window.
Cathay Pacific 747

Little bear traveling in style
Cathay Pacific 747

One of the passengers taking photo of his Cathay Pacific 747 model.

Unfortunately, the flight went by very fast and before we knew it, we were getting close to Hong Kong. The seatbelt signs were switched on when we began our descent at 2:25PM Hong Kong time, and the gear was lowered 25 minutes later.

At 2:54PM, we touched down on Hong Kong International Airport’s runway 07L. Slowing down and exiting the runway, we taxied to our parking position just as it was beginning to rain outside. At the same time, the Captain was bidding a farewell to the passengers on the PA and also explaining the weather. “Even the heavens started to cry for losing such a beautiful plane,” he concluded shortly before the aircraft stopped at its gate at 3:04PM, marking the end of the Jumbo Jet in Cathay Pacific’s passenger operations.

Longest Deboarding in Cathay’s History

Even though the flight had officially arrived, it was far from over. While some of the passengers got off the plane quickly, the more enthusiastic ones stayed onboard to get their last shots of the aircraft interior.

Cathay Pacific 747

An overview of the upper deck business class cabin.
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Business class seat.
Cathay Pacific 747

First class seat.

I got in a line that led to the upper deck, to the cockpit. After some minutes of waiting, I reached the stairs, eventually reaching the upper deck. While waiting for my turn to visit the cockpit, the aisles got so full once again that even though the crew was asked to come out of the aircraft, all the members on the upper deck could do was announce “we’re stuck in the upper deck” over the PA.

As the line progressed, at 3:30PM, the Captain passed the narrow upper deck aisle and headed down to leave the aircraft. Couple more people visited the flight deck afterwards. Unfortunately, the line was cut off two people in front of me by the ground staff that wanted to finish the deboarding as soon as possible.

As such, reluctantly, I headed down to the main deck, and out of the aircraft as one of the last commercial passengers to deboard the Cathay Pacific 747. Later, I learned that at 45 minutes, it was the longest disembarking that Cathay Pacific remembers.

While I thought that getting of the aircraft would bring the flight to an end, I was mistaken. Outside the jetways, the Captain together with the rest of the crew were still interacting with passengers – taking photos, chatting, and signing various memorabilia. Throughout the flight and after landing, they must each have given out hundreds of signs, all of that with smile, excitement and pride for being part of the historic moment.

More than an hour after landing, I waited for my turn to get my flight certificate signed by Captain John Graham, took a quick photo with him, and headed towards immigration to enter Hong Kong knowing that my subsequent visits to the airport would not be the same.

Cathay Pacific 747

Posing with Captain Graham and the flight certificate.
Cathay Pacific 747

The crew posing one last time before everyone went their separate ways.
Cathay Pacific 747

Captain Graham and some of the crew members surrounded by enthusiasts after our arrival in Hong Kong.

 

Click here to read more Cathay Pacific flight and lounge reviews

 

8 thoughts on “Flight Review: Cathay Pacific 747-400 Farewell Flight, from Tokyo to Hong Kong”

  1. This must have been a rather sad, yet momentous occasion. No doubt you will look back on this day in many years to come and remember it with much affection. Thanks for a great report.

    1. It definitely will! I am scheduled to fly on Delta 747 in slightly over a week and can’t wait! Another Jumbo that will be retired soon…

  2. I flew on this same 747-467 in Jan 1999, CX 883 LAX-HKG. It was my first time to fly Cathay Pacific. I have many unforgettable memories of that flight; but most noteworthy was the seat I occupied for take off and landing; the cockpit jump seat. CX was very accommodating and the whole crew was so nice. Every time I see this 747-467 I am reminded of that flight. Unfortunately it is now history, and so is sitting in the cockpit for takeoff and landing. Like all other airlines, CX no longer does it, although it is usually easy to get a cockpit visit at the gate

  3. Nice trip report. I once flew on Cathay Pacific Airways Boeing 747-400 from Hong Kong to Vancouver in around January 1992. I also flew on Canadian Airlines International Boeing 747-400 between Vancouver and Hong Kong in summer of 1993. It was good memory. 🙂

  4. Mr. Manuel Luis Antonio

    I Still Recall My 1st On CX’S B747-400 Flew Inside B747-400 (B-HOP&B-HKE) From Manila-HongKong-Los Angeles In October 31,1994- Monday In Hong Kong Kai Tak International Airport Back Then When Hong Kong Was Still Using Kai Tak …… That Day I Was So Happy To See It As Baby Then In May 23,2004-Sunday Morning I Saw A CX B747-400 Which Was (B-HOP) As CX 904 MNL-HKG The Early Morning Flight Which Has Just On Immediate Take Off From Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport -Hong Kong Check Lap Kok International Airport Then I Saw CX 912 Also Ready For Hong Kong On B747-400 (B-HKE) Which Was About To Take Off Bound To Hong Kong Too Then CX 907 &CX 901 HKG-MNL B747-400 (B-HUJ,B-HKT) Which 2 Planes Landed At The Same Time& Parked Near Each Other At Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal No.1 Gates No.5&6 While I Went OnBoard CX 906 MNL-HKG B747-400 (B-HUJ) Which Departed At 10AM From MNL-HKG Then We Landed In HKG At 2PM After We Had To Transfer To Another Flight To The US From HKG My Flight CX B747-400 Was My Special Memory To Me Because I Always Dreamt Of Working In CX As A CXFilipino Senior Purser …. My CX B747-400
    Story My Final WOrds “Thank You, For Flying CATHAY PACIFIC CX 904,CX 912 ,CX 906,CX 900 ,CX 918,CX 902,CX 934,CX 967,CX908,CX930 A Member Of The 1World Alliance Mabuhay At Maraming Salamat Po ,Mabuhay Welcome Home To Manila The Philippines”

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