Sydney to Europe
Cathay Pacific Business Class: Sydney to Europe
With Middle East routes off the map (for now) Cathay Pacific’s business class offers a polished alternative via Hong Kong
The war in the Middle East has forced Australian travellers to rethink how they get to Europe. Flights through hubs of Dubai and Doha have been drastically reduced, and Smart Traveller has placed both the UAE and Qatar on the “do not travel” list – even for transit.
Asia has become the default new gateway, with most major Asian airlines reporting full flights out of Australia. With its reputation for uncompromising safety and service, Cathay Pacific is an obvious choice for Europe-bound travellers. But how do its premium cabins stack up against the rest? Firstclassmagazine.co recently put the airline’s A350 business class experience to the test.
Cathay Pacific: routes and frequency
Cathay Pacific flies from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to over 12 European and UK destinations, including London, Paris, Milan, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Zurich. All flights transit through Hong Kong, with a total journey time usually more than 20 hours.
Plane talking
Cathay Pacific’s business class varies by aircraft. On B777-300 routes between Sydney or Melbourne and Hong Kong, you’ll be sitting pretty in a cabin retrofitted with the new Aria Suites, with sliding privacy doors, wireless charging docks, customised mood lighting and larger entertainment screens. I’m flying the Zurich to Hong Kong leg on an A350, which despite being a newer, more efficient plane, features the older (2019) version of the business class seat.
The A350 business class seat
There are 38 seats in the business class cabin, with a 1-2-1 layout and arranged in a reverse herringbone pattern, all with direct aisle access. While not as private as the Aria Suite, the seat still feels modern, and converts to a fully lie-flat bed at the touch of a button (unlike Singapore Airlines’ equivalent, which requires a manual flip-over).
The seat is 51cm wide and 190cm long when in flatbed mode, ample for most, and the supplied mattress topper is soft and plush. I’m in a middle seat, and with no seat divider between the seats I can see more than I’d like to of my neighbour. Inside the storage cabinet I find noise cancelling headphones (although I always bring my own), a universal power plug and USB-A outlet, and an amenities kit containing earplugs, an eye mask, and Bamford products.
Dining out inflight
I’m last to board the cabin, and I pay for my tardiness by missing out on a glass of Louis Roederer Champagne (the bottle has run dry apparently and we can’t open another until we’re airborne, I’m told). Boarding is a busy time for the crew, and they seem a little flustered, but once cruising things settle into a relaxed, efficient rhythm. Tuna tartare is served prior to lunch, which is a choice of pork chop with spring onion and egg noodle soup, roasted sea pike (you might know it as snook), poached chicken or a braised veal cheek with jus. I opt for the chicken and it’s very tasty, although I feel the food coming out of the Hong Kong kitchen would probably be superior.
I enjoy my meal with a glass of Burgundy Chablis, followed by a cheese platter paired with a 10-year-old tawny port. Peckish passengers can order pork chops, macaroni or a beef burger on demand, along with a variety of sweet snacks. I go with the Chinese breakfast (shrimp and ham congee with stir fry rice vermicelli and vegetables) prior to our morning arrival into Hong Kong, and find it a welcome change from the standard scrambled eggs and sausages offered on Western airlines.
Inflight entertainment
Cathay Pacific won the 2025 Skytrax World’s Best Inflight Entertainment Award, and it’s easy to see why. There’s a huge selection of movies to choose from, from Hollywood classics to new releases, to the complete set of Harry Potter, along with seemingly limitless Asian cinema choices, and box sets of popular television series. WiFi is also available and free, although you can only connect one device, and not being Starlink is rather patchy and slow.
Lounging around
One of the perks of flying business class on Cathay Pacific (or having a Gold or above status with Qantas) is you can access any of the three business lounges at Hong Kong Airport. The airport has just one terminal, but it’s a monster, and it can take more than 20 minutes to walk from one end to the other (there’s also an intra-terminal train) so having several lounges means you can choose the one nearest to the gate that your flight departs from.
The Pier is a favourite for many and sits below the departures level, with views across the apron. It’s partitioned into zones, so you can choose where to sit depending on whether you want to work, eat, drink or just chill out. I love the serene, darkly-tiled Teahouse, where you can enjoy an enormous selection of Jing teas while grazing on freshly baked pastries and various tempting morsels.
The Wing is situated upstairs near the check-in area and the most low-key. You can choose to enjoy a drink at the Long Bar overlooking the boarding gates, or snuggle into a cocoon-like capsule and zone-out with a book or a movie.
Because it’s close to where my Hong Kong to Melbourne flight departs from, I spend most of my time in The Bridge, heading straight to Cathay’s Pacific famous noodle bar, where wonton and dan dan noodles are cooked fresh to order (every lounge has a noodle bar so don’t panic). Having just come off a long flight from Europe I’m keen to freshen up, so I’m grateful for a shower. The lounges can all get busy, but you shouldn’t have any issue finding a place to relax and prepare for your next leg.
Talking points
Cathay Pacific is part of the One World airline alliance, which means you can book flights with Qantas frequent flyer points (or alternatively earn Qantas points and status credits), a distinct advantage for Australian flyers.
The verdict
It’s a long way to Europe, especially if you’re going through Asia instead of the Middle East, so comfort matters more than ever. Cathay Pacific’s business class ticks almost every box in that regard, especially if you score a plane fitted with Aria Suites. Even if you don’t, the in-flight dining, exceptional service and Hong Kong lounge amenities will ensure you get to Europe (and home again) feeling refreshed and pampered. eral other major US airlines mainly for comfort and more generous and delicious dining options.
