• Dragonair

Dragonair

Airlines Reviews

Dragonair

Dragonair (Cathay Dragon): Airline Status and 2026 Updates

If you are searching for flights or reviews for Dragonair in 2026, there is a very specific reason you will not find any active bookings: the airline has permanently ceased operations.

Historically, Dragonair was a highly beloved regional airline based in Hong Kong, famous for its exceptional service across mainland China and Southeast Asia. However, corporate restructuring and unprecedented global events led to the complete retirement of the brand. Below is a brief overview of what happened to the airline and how you can fly its former routes today.

What Happened to Dragonair?

  • 1985: Dragonair is founded, quickly becoming a premier regional choice for flights connecting Hong Kong with mainland China and other Asian destinations.
  • 2006: Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong’s massive flag carrier) acquires full ownership of Dragonair, operating it as a wholly-owned subsidiary but keeping the distinct red-dragon branding.
  • 2016 (The Rebrand): Cathay Pacific announces a major rebranding. Dragonair is officially renamed “Cathay Dragon” to align its visual identity closer to its parent company. The iconic red dragon logo remained, but the aircraft liveries were updated to match Cathay Pacific’s “brushwing” design.
  • 2020 (Ceased Operations): During the severe downturn in global aviation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cathay Pacific Group made the difficult financial decision to permanently shutter the Cathay Dragon subsidiary. In October 2020, Cathay Dragon ceased all operations immediately.
Dragonair

How to Fly Dragonair's Routes in 2026

You can no longer book a ticket on Dragonair or Cathay Dragon. However, the connectivity the airline provided has not been lost.

When Cathay Dragon ceased operations, its parent company, Cathay Pacific, absorbed the vast majority of its routes and fleet. Today, if you want to fly from Hong Kong to tier-2 cities in mainland China, Taiwan, or regional hubs in Southeast Asia that were formerly serviced by Dragonair, you will simply book a flight directly with Cathay Pacific or their low-cost subsidiary, HK Express.

For Premium/Full-Service Travel: Book with Cathay Pacific. You will experience standard Cathay Pacific service, including their updated baggage policies, in-flight entertainment, and access to Oneworld frequent flyer benefits.

For Budget Travel: Book with HK Express (also owned by the Cathay Group), which operates a low-cost model on many of the shorter regional leisure routes.

Have You Flown with Dragonair?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Dragonair

Is Dragonair still flying?

No. Dragonair (which was rebranded as Cathay Dragon in 2016) permanently ceased operations in October 2020. Its routes and aircraft were absorbed by its parent company, Cathay Pacific.

Who owns Dragonair?

Dragonair was a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Cathay Pacific Group.

Where do I go if I have a Cathay Dragon frequent flyer account?

Cathay Dragon utilized the “Marco Polo Club” and “Asia Miles” programs, which were the exact same programs used by Cathay Pacific. In recent years, Cathay Pacific streamlined these into a single loyalty program simply called “Cathay.” Your miles and profile from the Dragonair days, provided they haven’t expired due to inactivity, remain under the modern Cathay program.

Disclaimer: All information, policies, and details presented on this page are gathered from publicly available resources and are subject to change. Please verify directly with the airline before booking.