Cathay honours Kai Tak's legacy with ‘homecoming’ fly-past

Cathay has partnered with creative agency Leo Hong Kong to launch a short documentary-style video featuring the behind-the-scenes of all the planning it took to get flight CX8100 to soar the skies around Kai Tak again.

This follows Cathay’s launch of a special flight demonstration featuring a Cathay Pacific A350 that flew near Kai Tak Stadium, passing through Victoria Harbour on the last day of this year’s Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Rugby Sevens. The stadium is also the former site of Hong Kong’s International Airport, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Kai Tak Airport.

Don't miss: Cathay relives the past at Kai Tak with low-flying plane

Released on 10 April, the video features the behind-the-scenes of how the Cathay Pacific team recounted their moments and emotions in the month-long journey to Kai Tak via Victoria Harbour, pushing boundaries to make it happen despite all the unknown circumstances. 

The video initially focuses on the 100-year legacy of Kai Tak, featuring pictures and clips that illustrate Kai Tak Airport as the site of one of the most challenging landings and as a place cherished by Hongkongers. It then transitions to the preparations for the CX8100 homecoming initiative before takeoff, leading up to the moment when the CX8100 flies past Kai Tak Stadium and circles around Victoria Harbour.

The video has received over 9,000 views and positive comments among netizens since its launch on YouTube last night, according to a check by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE. While some said watching this tribute fly-past brought back many memories, some said they would share the video with their children.

To capture CX8100’s fly-past, Publicis Groupe Hong Kong has recruited photographers whose images of Cathay Pacific’s landings at Kai Tak are still famous today. Their photographs and live-streamed footage of CX8100’s descent continue to be shared worldwide and across Cathay’s social channels.

Inspired by the iconic flight path in and out of Kai Tak, its low-altitude fly-past celebrated Kai Tak’s 100th anniversary and coincided with the historic debut of the Cathay/ HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at Kai Tak Sports Park. 

On 30 March, flight CX8100 took off from Hong Kong International Airport at around 4 pm, flying past Central, Wan Chai, Kai Tak, North Point and through the iconic Victoria Harbour to spectacularly recreate a piece of aviation history. To facilitate this special flight demonstration, Cathay partnered with the Hong Kong government to establish a temporary restricted flying zone in and around Victoria Harbour.

Edward Bell, Cathay’s general manager, brand, insights and marketing communications, said: “Everyone remembers the stories of Cathay Pacific’s aircraft flying in and out of Kai Tak. So we turned the nostalgia into an event to get the world talking about the Sevens, held for the first time at the new Kai Tak Sports Park.”

Christopher Lee, chief creative officer at Publicis Groupe Hong Kong, said: “Creating a live performance of an aircraft flying past Kai Tak seemed like an audacious feat. But together with the team at Cathay, we worked hard to plan an experience that everyone at this year’s Hong Kong Sevens final will remember. Hopefully for years to come.”

Don’t miss: Kai Tak Sports Park taps Cathay as exclusive founding travel partner

Cathay is Kai Tak Sports Park’s exclusive founding travel partner, a partnership that reinforces its commitment to the development of sports, arts and culture in its home city. Together with Kai Tak Sports Park, it aims to bring visitors from all over the world to Hong Kong by creating immersive experiences that enhance the city’s international profile.

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