The airline has added codeshare flights to Fortaleza, Recife, Buenos Aires, and Santo Domingo, operated by Iberia from Madrid. Additionally, it will increase its direct Hong Kong-Madrid route to daily from October.
Cathay Pacific has given a new boost to its presence in Latin America by adding four destinations to its codeshare network, all operated by Iberia from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport. Passengers flying from Hong Kong will be able to connect to Fortaleza and Recife (Brazil), Buenos Aires (Argentina), and Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) with a single stop in the Spanish capital.
New destinations and daily frequencies
The new agreements, framed within the oneworld alliance, allow Cathay Pacific to offer tickets to Argentina and the Dominican Republic for the first time. Until now, the airline already operated codeshare with Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Lima, and Santiago de Chile, totalling six destinations in four countries in the region.
Moreover, starting from October 25, 2026, the company will add three extra weekly flights on its direct Hong Kong-Madrid route, increasing from four weekly frequencies to one daily flight. The new flights will operate on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays with night departures from Europe, offering more flexibility to business and leisure travellers.
The Madrid hub as a gateway to Latin America
For travellers in the Community of Madrid, this expansion means more connection options to Latin America without the need to change airports or airlines at the origin. Iberia operates the connecting flights from its hub in Barajas, allowing passengers to check in their luggage from Hong Kong to their final destination in Latin America with a single ticket.
“We are delighted to incorporate these new destinations in Latin America into our codeshare flight network. Additionally, by offering daily frequencies from Madrid, we strengthen our position as the only airline offering direct flights between Hong Kong and Spain,” said Lavinia Lau, Customer and Commercial Officer of Cathay Pacific.
The Madrid-Hong Kong route, inaugurated in 2016 with four weekly flights, has established itself as the only direct connection between Spain and East Asia operated by a flag-carrying Asian airline. In summer, Cathay Pacific also operates a seasonal route to Barcelona with four weekly frequencies.
Impact for tourists and businesspeople in Madrid
For residents in the region, this news translates into more seats and schedules to fly to Hong Kong and, from there, connect to Cathay Pacific's network to 33 destinations in countries along the Belt and Road, China's infrastructure and trade initiative. The group operates nearly 600 weekly flights across its network.
The new codeshare flights are already available for booking on the Cathay Pacific website. Prices vary by season and availability, but the increased seat availability is expected to lower ticket prices in the coming months, especially in economy class.
A practical note: passengers flying from Madrid to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific can take advantage of same-day connections to the new Latin American destinations thanks to the staggered schedules of Iberia flights. The stopover in Madrid also allows enjoying the airport's shops and restaurants without needing to change terminals.
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