Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suite Business Class Is Coming to San Francisco in 2026: Dates, Routes, and What Travellers Need to Know

Published December 3, 2025

Cathay Pacific is set to bring its flagship Aria Suite business class to the Hong Kong–San Francisco (HKG–SFO) route from January 3, 2026, marking the product’s first scheduled deployment to the United States. The move extends the airline’s latest premium cabin beyond existing long‑haul markets such as London, Sydney, Melbourne, Frankfurt and Vancouver, and signals a broader refresh of its Boeing 777-300ER fleet. ^[1]

Coverage published today by Travel And Tour World and SSBCrack News confirms that the Aria-equipped Boeing 777-300ER will operate select Hong Kong–San Francisco rotations three times weekly, providing a major upgrade for business travellers on one of Cathay Pacific’s most important North American routes. ^[2]

When the Aria Suite launches on the San Francisco route

According to route data and airline reporting, Cathay Pacific will deploy its refurbished three-class, 361-seat Boeing 777‑300ER on flights CX872/ CX873 between Hong Kong and San Francisco starting January 3, 2026 (January 2 from San Francisco, due to the time difference). ^[3]

From Hong Kong (CX872): Scheduled to depart around 01:00 and arrive in San Francisco at approximately 21:00 local time the previous calendar day, reflecting the transpacific time shift. ^[4]
From San Francisco (CX873): Planned departure at 22:55, arriving back in Hong Kong at around 06:15 two days later, giving travellers an overnight westbound and an early‑morning arrival in Hong Kong. ^[5]
Frequency: Initially 3x weekly on this specific aircraft/flight pairing, even though Cathay Pacific operates 19 weekly flights in total between Hong Kong and San Francisco using multiple 777 configurations. ^[6]

Today’s articles emphasise that this is the first scheduled Aria Suite service to the United States, following its earlier rollout across selected routes to Europe, Australia and Canada. ^[7]

Cathay Pacific and industry outlets also warn that long‑haul fleet assignments can and do change; passengers booked on CX872/873 are encouraged to confirm the aircraft type and seat map close to departure if flying specifically for the Aria experience. ^[8]

What is the Aria Suite? Cathay Pacific’s new flagship business class

The Aria Suite is Cathay Pacific’s newest long‑haul business class cabin, introduced in late 2024 as the centrepiece of a full premium product refresh. It is currently installed exclusively on select Boeing 777‑300ER aircraft, with the airline planning to use the same design on its future Boeing 777‑9 fleet. ^[9]

Key features highlighted by Cathay Pacific include: ^[10]

Full privacy with a suite door and a wrap‑around shell that creates a “mini‑suite” feel in every seat.
A 1‑2‑1 layout providing direct aisle access for every passenger and a total of 45 business class suites in the 777-300ER configuration. ^[11]
A lie‑flat bed lined with premium wool fabric from rohi for improved breathability and comfort during long overnight flights. ^[12]
A 24‑inch 4K personal screen with Bluetooth audio and support for 4K HDR content, tied into an upgraded inflight entertainment platform. ^[13]
Wireless charging, USB‑C, USB‑A and AC power, allowing travellers to keep laptops and phones powered without juggling cables. ^[14]
Touchscreen seat and lighting controls, with presets such as Work, Relax and Sleep modes, plus fine‑tuning of ambient lighting that won’t disturb neighbours. ^[15]
Expanded personal storage, including a lined compartment for smaller items and a sliding console drawer sized for passports, glasses and other valuables. ^[16]

Cathay Pacific positions Aria as “business class, artfully reimagined,” pairing the hardware upgrade with revamped dining, a refreshed wine and champagne list, and onboard artwork curated from Hong Kong‑connected artists to give the cabins a gallery‑like feel. ^[17]

Where Aria Suite already flies today

Before San Francisco joins the line‑up, Aria Suite has been progressively deployed across a small but growing set of long‑haul routes: ^[18]

Europe: Hong Kong – Frankfurt (CX288/289) and London Heathrow (CX250/255)
Australia: Hong Kong – Melbourne (CX163/178) and Sydney (CX100/101)
North America: Hong Kong – Vancouver (CX888/865)
Selected regional services: Occasional flights to Bangkok and Sapporo

Industry trackers note that 10 Boeing 777‑300ERs have already been refitted with Aria Suites, and an eleventh aircraft is currently in modification. Each jet spends roughly seven weeks in Xiamen (XMN) for the full interior overhaul, a pace that explains the gradual route expansion. ^[19]

The Hong Kong–San Francisco deployment from January 3, 2026 is therefore a milestone: it is the first U.S. route to feature Aria and a logical step as Cathay Pacific targets markets with heavy premium demand, strong corporate traffic and significant Oneworld connectivity. ^[20]

Fleet plan: full 777-300ER reconfiguration by 2027

Multiple December 3 reports reiterate Cathay Pacific’s goal of reconfiguring its entire long‑haul 777‑300ER fleet by late 2027, replacing the previous generation business class and, on some jets, the legacy first‑class cabin. ^[21]

Once complete, this would give Cathay a unified long‑haul 777 product featuring:

45 Aria business suites
A refreshed premium economy cabin
An updated economy class with new seats and inflight entertainment

The San Francisco deployment from early 2026 is framed as part of this multi‑year rollout rather than a one‑off experiment, with more Aria‑equipped aircraft expected to rotate across flagship long‑haul routes as additional retrofits are completed. ^[22]

How to make sure your San Francisco flight has the Aria Suite

Because only certain rotations and tail numbers carry the new cabin, travellers eyeing the Hong Kong–San Francisco route will need to be a little proactive to guarantee the Aria experience. Today’s coverage and airline guidance suggest several practical checks: ^[23]

Check flights CX872 and CX873 first
For now, these are the only flights specifically scheduled with Aria Suite from January 3, 2026, operating three times per week. Other Cathay Pacific services on the route may still use older configurations. ^[24]
Inspect the seat map before booking
On Cathay Pacific’s official website, look for: ^[25]
- A Boeing 777‑300ER labelled as having the new business cabin
- A business class section with 45 seats in a 1‑2‑1 layout
- Characteristic “Aria rows” (industry coverage often points to rows 14 and 20 as easy reference points).
Use Google Flights and third‑party tools as a cross‑check
Travel media reports note that Google Flights highlights aircraft layouts that correspond to the Aria configuration, making it easier to spot the new product at a glance when comparing dates. ^[26]
Leverage Cathay’s loyalty programme for awards
Both Travel And Tour World and SSBCrack emphasise that Cathay Pacific’s own loyalty programme typically offers the most consistent access to premium-cabin award seats, including Aria Suite inventory. ^[27]
Re‑check close to departure
Since long‑haul aircraft swaps remain possible, it’s wise to confirm the aircraft type again in the days before flying if the new cabin is crucial to your plans. ^[28]

Why this matters for Hong Kong–US premium travel

The Hong Kong–San Francisco corridor is one of the most strategically important transpacific markets, serving tech, finance and tourism flows in both directions. With the Aria Suite, Cathay Pacific is:

Elevating its competitive position against other carriers offering next‑generation business cabins across the Pacific.
Cementing Hong Kong’s role as a premium connecting hub for travellers heading between North America and the rest of Asia.
Responding to rising expectations in long‑haul business class, where closing doors, wireless charging and 4K entertainment are quickly becoming the new benchmark rather than nice‑to‑have extras. ^[29]

For frequent flyers and points enthusiasts, the addition of San Francisco to the Aria route map also opens new possibilities for redemption “sweet spots,” especially when combined with the airline’s Oneworld partners and the growing number of Aria‑configured aircraft entering service. ^[30]

Outlook: what to watch after the San Francisco launch

Based on Cathay Pacific’s stated goals and current pace of retrofits, observers expect: ^[31]

More Aria capacity on existing routes such as London, Sydney, Melbourne, Frankfurt and Vancouver as additional 777‑300ERs exit heavy maintenance.
Potential expansion to further North American cities once enough aircraft are reconfigured, with San Francisco acting as the Aria Suite’s U.S. launch pad.
The eventual arrival of Boeing 777‑9 aircraft featuring the same business‑class concept, further standardising the premium experience at the top end of Cathay Pacific’s fleet.

For now, though, the headline is clear: from January 3, 2026, San Francisco becomes the first U.S. gateway to offer Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suite, and today’s December 3 coverage confirms that the countdown has officially begun. ^[32]