Cathay Pacific is clearly facing troubles as travel to Hong Kong is down amidst ongoing pro-democracy protests that have stretched for more than half a year. Mainland China forced the airline to push out its CEO and employees have ratted each other out over protest sympathies.

The carrier has to adjust its route network and capacity, and one way it appeared they were doing that – as reported on several blogs and by Routes Online – was to slash service to New York. Hong Kong – New York, like Hong Kong – London, is one of the premier business routes in the world and key to Cathay’s success.

Cathay Pacific in last week’s schedule update filed service changes for Hong Kong – New York JFK route, as the airline schedule service reduction from 25 to 11 weekly, for winter 2020/21 season from 25OCT20.

Cathay Pacific’s schedule filing had them dropping two daily Boeing 777s retaining one 777 and a four-times weekly Airbus A350 (in addition to its daily Newark flight).

This represented a major cut, and made a certain amount of sense in context, however it turns out that Cathay Pacific is not making the change that they filed. South China Morning Post reporter Danny Lee, who covers Cathay in Hong Kong, reports that Cathay’s filed schedule is not final and New York service will be restored.

🚨 good news @cathaypacific not reducing JFK flights this winter. CX still to operate 25 flights a week.

Spokx says winter season schedule still being organised but no question of cuts on JFK.

FYI @OneMileataTime @garyleff etc

— G-DLEE (@JournoDannyAero) January 13, 2020

Great news for flyers – and especially those looking for award travel between the U.S. and Asia using American, Alaska, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and British Airways miles.