Cathay upgrades "I Can Fly" program to nurture future aviation talent

Cathay has launched a refreshed format of the “I Can Fly” program, aiming to provide young people with opportunities to explore and pursue a career in the aviation industry, while also nurturing future talent for the industry to strengthen Hong Kong’s international aviation hub status.

This year’s edition of I Can Fly sees a refreshed format with activities throughout 2025 centered on Education, Discovery and Exploration, in addition to incorporating social service. Across the entire I Can Fly program, Cathay will empower some 2,000 young people between the ages of 10 and 18 to pursue their aviation dreams.

At the kick-off ceremony on March 22, Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics Liu Chun-san said Cathay’s I Can Fly program is a meaningful initiative that not only broadens the participants’ horizons, but also ignites their courage to pursue their aviation dreams.

“Quite a number of the locally trained pilots are also graduates of this program, which is not just an ‘orientation course to aviation’, but also a ‘dream factory’ for aviation,” Liu said.

Cathay Director People Patricia Hwang said: “In our upgraded version of the ‘I Can Fly’ program, there are more opportunities to learn about the operations of the aviation industry from a logistics perspective. Logistics positions are often less known and require more public recognition. We aim to help our mentees broaden their horizons and gain a better understanding about the different career opportunities available, thereby sparking their interest in joining the aviation industry in the future.”

Cathay General Manager Corporate Affairs Andy Wong said: “Cathay’s ‘I Can Fly’ program was first launched in 2003 and over 4,400 students have since graduated from the program. Some alumni have joined the aviation industry by working with Cathay, the Airport Authority Hong Kong, the Civil Aviation Department, or in other related sectors. This demonstrates the program’s effectiveness in shaping future talent and creating opportunities.

“We hope to see more talented individuals join the aviation industry. The ultimate goal of the ‘I Can Fly’ program is to nurture more young people for the long-term development of the aviation industry and to reinforce Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub,” Wong said.

Wong also mentioned the program will feature more Chinese Mainland and Greater Bay Area elements to allow students to gain more insights into the national aviation industry and its development.

Marking the official launch of year’s I Can Fly program, the two Aviation Explorer Days held on March 22 and 23 saw the participation of 870 underprivileged students in total, supported by 70 volunteers from Cathay. The Aviation Explorer Day included tours of the airport area, such as Cathay City, Cathay Dining, and Cathay Cargo Terminal. Students also had interactive workshops and talks with Cathay Academy, where stories were shared to give young explorers a holistic view of the history of the aviation industry and Cathay.

Participant Louis Chan, who initially aspired to become a vet or lawyer, said he might consider joining the aviation industry after his experience at the Aviation Explorer Day.

“I was touched when I saw Cathay’s first Boeing 747. I also find it fascinating that as Kawai Ng, Senior Cargo Services Officer said they can travel to different countries on weekends during the career sharing session,” Chan said.

Secondary one student Alan Li was excited about being in a First class cabin and learning about its special features as he had never been in one before, adding that he is interested in becoming a flight attendant to travel around the world.

The I Can Fly program is part of a broader range of initiatives that Cathay champions to promote youth development. These include the Cadet Pilot Training Program, training courses held in collaboration with the Vocational Training Council, various summer internship and graduate trainee programs, and the Cathay Hackathon.