Bangkok--9 Nov--Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation Cathay Pacific has placed a USD5.2 billion order (at list prices) for 17 more aircraft from Boeing as part of an aggressive fleet growth strategy aimed at defending and developing its Hong Kong hub. Ten B787-8 freighters will be added by 2012, in addition to eight other freighters already on order, providing a one third increase in cargo capacity (after the retirement of older, less fuel-efficient B747-200Fs from its fleet). The airline has taken options on 14 more B747-8Fs. Some of the aircraft could be earmarked for the planned Cathay Pacific-Air China cargo JV, whose launch has slipped from earlier this year, due to challenging cargo market conditions. In Cathay’s latest commentary on the cargo market, the airline reported healthy tonnage growth in Sep-07, “largely driven by continued strong demand out of Mainland China”. However, Northeast Asia “remained a problem area” with yields still under “considerable” pressure. Despite the US economic slowdown, the airline expects to see a pick up in overall demand as the cargo market enters its traditional peak period in Oct-07 and Cathay’s executives are generally very bullish on the prospects for the cargo segment, describing 2007’s weaker performance as a short-term “blip”. Seven B777-300ERs have been added to an original order for 19 of the type (plus four leases through a third party), meaning Cathay will now hold the largest overall B777-300ER commitment among Asian carriers. According to Cathay, the B777-300ER will become the “backbone” of the airline's long-haul fleet, in another indication that the Hong Kong carrier is unlikely to be an A380 operator, at least in the medium term, as it focuses on frequency and non-stop services pitched for the premium travel market. Cathay Pacific is currently very similar in size to Dubai’s Emirates, in terms of fleet, although the latter has more than twice the number of aircraft on order (even with Cathay’s latest commitment taking its firm order book to 48 aircraft). Emirates’ order book is likely to swell even further with up to 100 widebodies likely to be ordered in the next few weeks. Cathay’s order is another boost for Boeing, which now has some 973 aircraft on order in 2007. It is quickly closing in on its record 1,044 net orders set last year and with several major orders pending at the upcoming Dubai Airshow, could smash through the 1,000 barrier shortly.