The airline has spent months developing the new route, which will operate with a Boeing 747-400 freighter flying from Hong Kong via Anchorage to Chicago, then on to Amsterdam and Dubai before returning to Hong Kong.
The round-the-world flight is an extension of Cathay Pacific's existing service to Chicago, which operates eight times a week.
The new flight from the US to Amsterdam marks Cathay Pacific's first transatlantic service.
In total, the round-the-world flight will take 44.5 hours to operate, including ground time to uplift freight.
Cathay Pacific is also reinforcing its commitment to the continued development of Hong Kong as a leading international air cargo hub.
Construction of Cathay Pacific's new HK$5.5 billion cargo terminal at HKIA has already begun, and the facility is scheduled to begin operations in 2013. The airline has also upgraded its freighter route to Houston and Miami to four times a week and five times a week respectively, effective July 2nd.
Furthermore, the airline's continued expansion of its freighter fleet includes firm orders for ten Boeing 747-8 freighters, with deliveries set to begin in January 2011.
In other news, Cathay Pacific Airways has agreed to sell all of its 15% shareholding in Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co (HAECO) to Swire Pacific for a total of HK$2.62 billion.
The transaction will result in a profit of around HK$1.83 billion for the airline, which Cathay Pacific will apply towards other investments in its core aviation business, including the abovementioned air cargo terminal and new aircraft, as well as continuing enhancements to its products and services.
