Cathay Pacific announced on its official Facebook page today that it is launching multiple new destinations, and started a competition for people to guess what those destinations are. The clue is that all those destinations are "beer related", with a cartoon video with beer in different colors.

https://www.facebook.com/cathaypacificHK/

Quote from the Facebook post:

Guess our new destinations by the different coloured beers and win!

We’re excited to be adding a number of new destinations to our international network. But can you guess which ones, based on the different coloured beers in this video?

It seems to me that it is something massive. By saying "a number of new destinations", I have to believe that there are 3 or even 4 in play here. And by launching an online guessing game that starts on Aug 29 and ends on Aug 31, their announcements would be imminent (probably as early as Aug 31!!)

So where will they be?

My guess is Munich and Dublin. Munich is obvious (beer related) and it makes sense with the A359. Dublin would not have made sense without Brexit. But since the Brexit decision, many banks (including JPMorgan and Citi, etc.) have announced massive movement of financial jobs (in the thousands) from London to Dublin. I have to believe that a lot of the high yield traffic between HKG and LHR are filled by bankers and at least some of those are switching to DUB. It would now not be a dream to fill a daily HKG-DUB flight with 30+ business class seats on a A359. London flights will probably be maintained to hold onto the lucrative LHR slots and there will still be sufficient demands for LHR-HKG. May be some of the 77W LHR flights will be downgauged to A359 after Brexit settles. Some other banks have also announced movement of banking jobs to Paris (HSBC) and Frankfurt (Morgan Stanley) so it will be interesting to see whether CX will react and increase service to CDG and FRA after 2019.

Anyway, if there is a 3rd or 4th new destination, what would those be? Many people in Facebook guessed Copenhagen. I see some saying Vienna and some saying Brussels. Looks like most people are thinking about Europe. Are there any destinations in North America you would think as "beer related"? I would think Seattle is NOT beer related. If anything, I would associate it with Coffee.

The one at the end must surely be Brussels.

Brussels, Munich, maybe Mexico City. Dublin I doubt but possible. Copenhagen?

I suppose their 1st addition would be MUC (the main gap in their European Network)

Other candidates are CPH ( which CX has stated not long ago it's intention to serve it) BRU (key city in EU due to its important role in Economy and Politics) and DUB, which could take advantage of Brexit situation and has a decent percentage of travellers to Asia going trough hubs such as IST DOH AUH and DXB, so CX could enter in this market easily because of the lack of Asian flights to DUB

I highly doubt they launch VIE, as it's already served by Austrian 5 Weekly, being a market well covered. ARN also is served by SAS 5 Weekly, so I don't think either destinations will be launched

So my candidates are: 1. MUC 2. CPH 3. DUB 4. BRU

Definitely:
Brussels
Munich

Possibly:
Copenhagen
Dublin

Long shot:
Prague
Vienna

I can't seem to locate this Facebook post, has it been deleted again?

Actually Vienna is genius. I tend to agree with Vienna. So I'll say, Munich, Brussels, Vienna, maybe Copenhagen. Don't rate Prague. Still maybe Mexico City.

Long shot, but glasgow might be in the running

So I'm guessing then CX won't be announcing any new service to the likes of those beer hot spots such as Jeddah or Tehran.

What about Christchurch? NZ is beer producing and exporting. Rumours have been around for a while.

User001 wrote:

I can't seem to locate this Facebook post, has it been deleted again?

Just checked. The post is still there. Note that the post starts with Chinese. The English paragraph may be hidden and you would have to click the "see more" link to open the full message.

The following is the Chinese text that is at the start of the post:
我們即將推出更多精彩新航線，為乘客帶來驚喜！猜猜今次會有哪些新航點？

Although not strictly related to the beer I wouldn't completely rule out Venice.
A seasonal flight just like the new service to Barcelona introduced this summer.

Do you mind linking the page as the one in the original post links to the UK page and can't find this post, the latest post being about amenity kits?

User001 wrote:

Do you mind linking the page as the one in the original post links to the UK page and can't find this post, the latest post being about amenity kits?

Does this work?
https://www.facebook.com/cathaypacificH ... 822702119/

NZ321 wrote:

What about Christchurch? NZ is beer producing and exporting. Rumours have been around for a while.

CX is flying to CHC already though, although only seasonally. CHC would probably not be counted as a new destination.

raylee67 wrote:

Are there any destinations in North America you would think as "beer related"?

Denver.

per a "CX Secrets" employee page...

"3 new destinations are Bxxxxxxx, Cxxxxxxxxx and Dxxxxx"

and they will also be closing three destinations. "1 in China, 1 in SE Asia and 1 in Europe."

I vote Budapest, Copenhagen, and Dublin. everyone says Brussels so I'm gonna be a little different and say Budapest. Budapest is an up and coming destination and CA are already in the market. Copenhagen has been rumored ages, and I agree on it being Dublin. posters in other places say Dallas but I don't think that's as likely, unless CX want to add a night frequency

NZ321 wrote:

What about Christchurch? NZ is beer producing and exporting. Rumours have been around for a while.

Not just rumours. According to Wikipedia this route starts at 1 december 2017.

1: B....
2: C....
3: D.... (this country can't make beer!!)

DoctorVenkman wrote:

wenders825 wrote:

per a "CX Secrets" employee page...

"3 new destinations are Brussels, Copenhagen and Dxxxxx"

and they will also be closing three destinations. "1 in China, 1 in SE Asia and 1 in Europe."

I vote Budapest, Copenhagen, and Dublin. everyone says Brussels so I'm gonna be a little different and say Budapest. Budapest is an up and coming destination and CA are already in the market. Copenhagen has been rumored ages, and I agree on it being Dublin. posters in other places say Dallas but I don't think that's as likely, unless CX want to add a night frequency

If that "CX Secrets" page is reliable, then it's almost certainly Brussels, Copenhagen, then either Denver or Dublin.

Ignoring the "CX Secrets" page, I would have guessed either Portland, Denver or San Diego as US destinations based on beer.

it's been reliable in the past. Brussels is more likely than Budapest, I'm just being "that guy" so I can say I was right if Budapest somehow is selected

I highly doubt Denver would be in consideration, especially above DFW. I think it's Dublin.

awwdabaaby wrote:

Long shot, but glasgow might be in the running

Long shot indeed... dont believe everything the spotters tell you! Not a hope with all these other major cities and capitals in the running.

Brussels, Copenhagen and Dublin.

itisi wrote:

1: B....
2: C....
3: D.... (this country can't make beer!!)

People said it is DFW,,,,,

By the way, PEK and DPS will be transfer to KA and LGW will transfer to LHR,

I had my money on Munich, as this would have been a logical choice given its recent partnership with LH, and CX being one of the only key Asian players not serving this beautiful city.

That said, the CX secrets forum has debunked that it will not be Munich.

So my money now is on Dublin, Brussels and Copenhagen.

Looks like marketing have got something right for once, beer and competition in the same sentence !

intothinair wrote:

I had my money on Munich, as this would have been a logical choice given its recent partnership with LH, and CX being one of the only key Asian players not serving this beautiful city.

That said, the CX secrets forum has debunked that it will not be Munich.

So my money now is on Dublin, Brussels and Copenhagen.

I would've thought Munich was their biggest unserved market in Europe, but alas

SCQ83 wrote:

Brussels, Copenhagen and Dublin.

Other than Guinness (which is a poor quality mass produced beer IMO), Dublin is not really famous for beer, but it would make a sensible guess as a potential new CX destination.

hongkongflyer wrote:

itisi wrote:

1: B....
2: C....
3: D.... (this country can't make beer!!)

People said it is DFW,,,,,

By the way, PEK and DPS will be transfer to KA and LGW will transfer to LHR,

Supposedly, DUS will be dropped as well.

Had my hopes up for MKE, but I guess not.

Breathe wrote:

SCQ83 wrote:

Brussels, Copenhagen and Dublin.

Other than Guinness (which is a poor quality mass produced beer IMO), Dublin is not really famous for beer, but it would make a sensible guess as a potential new CX destination.

you can hate Guinness (I don't drink, so no opinion) but to say Dublin isn't famous for beer would be a pretty huge reach

hongkongflyer wrote:

itisi wrote:

1: B....
2: C....
3: D.... (this country can't make beer!!)

People said it is DFW,,,,,

By the way, PEK and DPS will be transfer to KA and LGW will transfer to LHR,

Would not be surprised DPS is transferred to KA. In fact, I think leisure destinations such as CNS, CEB and CTS should be transferred to KA as well. I thought LGW is quite successful though, no?

And if it's now B, C and D for the new destinations, I agree with most people here that it will be Brussels, Copenhagen and Dublin. Dallas is possible but somehow I think it's less so than Dublin. AA's DFW flight relies heavily on connection traffic in the US side. If CX is to open DFW, it will probably fly it on a different time slot than AA (i.e. night arrival at DFW and red-eye back to Asia), which would severely limit DFW connection.

panamair wrote:

hongkongflyer wrote:

itisi wrote:

1: B....
2: C....
3: D.... (this country can't make beer!!)

People said it is DFW,,,,,

By the way, PEK and DPS will be transfer to KA and LGW will transfer to LHR,

Supposedly, DUS will be dropped as well.

That would be a huge blow for the recently signed CX and LH partnership. No upcoming Munich route and dropping DUS as well.

That would CX presence in Europe's largest economy with a single daily flight to FRA. Considering SQ serves on some days 4 daily flights to Germany, and Air China serves 5 or 6 daily flights, this is a bit of a disappointment.

panamair wrote:

hongkongflyer wrote:

itisi wrote:

1: B....
2: C....
3: D.... (this country can't make beer!!)

People said it is DFW,,,,,

By the way, PEK and DPS will be transfer to KA and LGW will transfer to LHR,

Supposedly, DUS will be dropped as well.

If BRU were to be opened, I would imagine it will be a relocation of the DUS flights. AMS, DUS and BRU are just too close together, with also FRA and CDG in the vicinity.

Cathay Pacific destinations in Europe are:

UK: LHR, LGW, MAN
Spain: MAD, BCN (seasonal)
France: CDG
Netherlands: AMS
Italy: FCO, MXP
Switzerland: ZRH
Germany: FRA, DUS


I think those new destinations are DUB, BRU & CPH

Perhaps they should build an airport at Peterborough, just so folks can get more exposure to wonderful
Oakham Ales Citra

St Louis...

wenders825 wrote:

Breathe wrote:

SCQ83 wrote:

Brussels, Copenhagen and Dublin.

Other than Guinness (which is a poor quality mass produced beer IMO), Dublin is not really famous for beer, but it would make a sensible guess as a potential new CX destination.

you can hate Guinness (I don't drink, so no opinion) but to say Dublin isn't famous for beer would be a pretty huge reach

Okay, its famous for ONE beer.

PDX? Portland has over 70 breweries in the city. Cathay Pacific Cargo also flies 5 747s into PDX per week, up from 2x/week last year.

"Portland is home to more breweries than any other city on Earth."

ANA787 wrote:

PDX? Portland has over 70 breweries in the city. Cathay Pacific Cargo also flies 5 747s into PDX per week, up from 2x/week last year.

Did you not read above? The cities begin with the letters B, C and D.

Also the clue says 3 of the cities.

Sadly Facebook keeps redirecting me from CX's Hong Kong page the LatAm (?) page, so I am unable to find the post. Nevertheless, I am going to say MUC and BRU.

I am not optimistic about MEX. Without an intermediate stop on the westbound leg, even the A359 might be quite challenged. CX can funnel pax to/from MEX (or Mexico in general) via LAX on AA codeshares (AA has two MEX flights from LAX). Plus, how is MEX beer related? Because of Corona? If anything, Corona makes me think of a beach, but certainly not Mexico City. And nowadays the mass market beer industry in Mexico is firmly in foreign hands.

EDIT: Oh! Just saw the recent posts. B for Brussels, D for Dublin and C for...??? Copenhagen?

East Midlands.........Burton ale....enough said?

Not the correct letter? Of course it is.....Castle Donington

jbpdx wrote:

"Portland is home to more breweries than any other city on Earth."

Agreed. I'd say SEA and PDX if you are talking good beer.

How n the world did someone come up with MEX? The mass produced stuff made in MKE and STL isn't beer. It's p*ss water. DEN and SAN have a great microbrew culture too, as others have noted.

CPH is a given basically. Since around 2 weeks ago, it's being listed under Cathay Pacific's Global Network in its website and the 2 cities CX/KA doesn't fly but listed are CPH and BLL.
If the new ports are really starting from B,C and D, I would agree it will most likely be BRU, CPH, DUB (DUB only because it's more related to beer, otherwise I really can't tell I would bet on DUB or DFW)

Boston? Samuel Adams ads claim they win beer tasting contests in Europe fairly often and there are lots of microbreweries in the area too.

Brussels and Dublin. But they already fly to Copenhagen. Cincinnati?