Cathay soars with 180 youths in inspirational discovery flight over HK

Cathay Airways turned dreams into reality for 180 underprivileged students and mentees on Friday, treating them to a scenic 90-minute flight over Hong Kong aboard a newly upgraded Boeing 777-300ER as part of the airline’s revamped I Can Fly youth program.

Hosted by Cathay’s chief customer and commercial officer Lavinia Lau with Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki as guest of honor, the Discovery Flight 2025 spotlighted participants from the government’s Strive and Rise Programme and Kwun Tong Methodist Social Service.

Many were flying for the first time, soaring above familiar landmarks while learning about aviation careers.

Chan praised Cathay’s deep commitment, noting the carrier has delivered over 40 activities for more than 3,600 students and mentors across three program cohorts.

These range from airport tours of Cathay City, dining facilities, and cargo terminals to hands-on exploration of the industry’s inner workings.

He urged participants to embrace the chance to broaden horizons and build networks, pledging continued cross-sector collaboration to enrich the Strive and Rise initiative and reinforce Hong Kong’s global aviation hub status.

Lau celebrated the event as a launchpad for future talent, thanking government partners and over 100 Cathay volunteers, ground crew, and pilots who made the day possible.

She framed the flight as proof that ambition has no ceiling and just the start of greater journeys ahead.

The outing anchors the “Discovery” pillar of the refreshed I Can Fly program, which also features the Youth Academy and Aviation Explorer Days.

Since 2003, the initiative has reached thousands through cadet pilot training, vocational courses, internships, and events like the upcoming Cathay Hackathon finale on November 16.

This year alone, I Can Fly has engaged around 1,400 local youth, fueling passion for aviation while nurturing the city’s next generation of industry leaders.