Wednesday newsletters feature a hotel or flight review.
I recently enjoyed a wonderful trip in Southeast Asia. You can read my trip reports here:
- Review: Finnair A350 Business Class from Helsinki to Hong Kong
- Review: Rosewood Hong Kong Hotel
- Review: Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class from Hong Kong to Phnom Penh (today)
- Review: Six Senses Krabey Island (Cambodia)
- Review: Shinta Mani Angkor, Siem Reap (Cambodia)
- Review: Rosewood Phnom Penh Hotel (Cambodia)
- Review: Song Saa Private Island (Cambodia)
- Review: Thai Airways A350 Business Class from Bangkok to Munich
Review: Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class from Hong Kong to Phnom Penh
I recently flew Business Class on a Cathay Pacific Airbus A330 from Hong Kong to Phnom Penh, a short flight that offered a clear look at the airline’s regional Business Class product. Cathay Pacific’s Airbus A330 fleet features different Business Class configurations, meaning the onboard experience can vary quite significantly depending on the aircraft assigned. Across its A330 fleet, the carrier has installed five different Business Class layouts, ranging from modern reverse herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle access to older regional products in a traditional 2-2-2 arrangement.
Unfortunately, my Hong Kong to Phnom Penh flight was operated by one of Cathay’s older A330s featuring the outdated 2-2-2 Business Class cabin. While the seat clearly felt dated compared to the airline’s long-haul products, it was still a reasonably comfortable recliner for a short daytime flight, especially when paired with Cathay Pacific’s consistently strong soft product. A full meal service was offered, and the cabin crew were attentive throughout, helping to maintain a great onboard experience despite the ageing hard product. It may not match the airline’s flagship Aria Suites long-haul product (which I reviewed here), but for a relatively short hop within Asia, the regional Business Class was perfectly adequate.
In many ways, Cathay Pacific’s older regional Business Class still compares favorably to what is offered on many short-haul Business Class products in Europe or the United States. However, it is more difficult to benchmark against leading Asian carriers such as Singapore Airlines, EVA Air or ANA, which tend to operate more consistent and modern regional cabins across their fleets. That said, Cathay Pacific has already announced a major upcoming upgrade: the new Airbus A330 Aria Suite regional Business Class, expected to enter service from the end of this year, will replace the current recliners with fully flat beds in a 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle access, significantly raising the standard for regional travel.
On a side note, the arrival into Phnom Penh also brought an interesting experience, as we landed at the new Techo International Airport. At the time of arrival, our Airbus A330 was the only aircraft on the ground, and the airport felt completely deserted (it has been dubbed the “ghost airport” for good reason). This impression is partly explained by the fact that it is a brand-new, purpose-built replacement for Phnom Penh’s former airport and has been designed on a very large scale, with long-term capacity targets in the tens of millions of passengers annually, raising the question of whether Cambodia will be able to realise that ambition in practice. That said, architecturally, the terminal is impressive, featuring large-scale Khmer-inspired design elements and vast open spaces intended to evoke traditional temple-like spatial qualities, positioning the airport as a symbolic gateway to Cambodia rather than just a transport hub.
Have you ever flown in Cathay Pacific’s regional Business Class? Leave a comment.
Flight details:
- Trip: Hong Kong (HKG) to Phnom Penh (KTI)
- Airline: Cathay Pacific
- Aircraft type: Airbus A330-300
- Aircraft registration number: B-HLN
- On time departure: Yes (8:40 am)
- On time arrival:Yes (10:40 am)
- Distance: 962 miles (1550 km)
- Flight time: 2 hours
- Seat: 14K
- Class: Business Class
In this Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class review (more information & photos below my YouTube video):
- Cost of my ticket
- The Pier Business Class Lounge
- Cathay Pacific Airbus A330 fleet
- Business Class cabin
- Business Class seat (+ best & worst seats)
- Amenities
- Meals
- Entertainment
- Onboard internet
- Final thoughts & my verdict (score)
1. Cost of My Ticket
In total, I paid 10,000 Avios plus €63.02 in taxes and fees, which made this a very good-value redemption for a regional Business Class flight. This also happened to be the last remaining balance in my British Airways account, so I was glad to finally put those miles to use rather than let them expire.
2. The Pier Business Class Lounge
Located near Gate 65 in the northwest concourse of Hong Kong International Airport, The Pier Business Class Lounge is the largest lounge in the Cathay Pacific network, offering seating for approximately 550 guests. The lounge is accessible to eligible Business Class passengers, selected Marco Polo Club members, and eligible oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members traveling through Hong Kong. The lounge operates daily from 5:30am until the last Cathay Pacific departure.
The overall layout is organised around the concept of a street, divided into “fast” lines and “slow” lanes. The fast lane is centered around the lounge’s dining spaces and includes three distinct areas: The Food Hall, the Noodle Bar, and the Tea House:
- The Food Hall features a self-service buffet alongside a coffee cart inspired by traditional Asian street vendors, where baristas prepare fresh coffee throughout the day.
- The Noodle Bar remains one of the signature features of Cathay Pacific lounges. Guests can choose from a selection of freshly prepared dishes including dan dan noodles, wonton noodle soup, dim sum, steamed buns, and other Asian comfort dishes served throughout the day.
- The most distinctive areas within the lounge is the Tea House, designed as a quieter transition space away from the busier dining areas. A tea specialist serves a wide range of teas, allowing guests to enjoy a more traditional and slower-paced experience before their flight.
Located alongside the fast lane is the slow lane, a long and narrow space dedicated to relaxation and lounge seating. Here, large floor-to-ceiling windows bring natural light into the seating areas while offering views across the airport runway. Seating is varied, with a mix of lounge chairs, communal spaces, and Cathay Pacific’s custom-designed Solo Chairs, which include built-in reading lamps and side tables for passengers looking for a more private space to work or relax.
A wellness section is located at the far end of the lounge and includes fourteen shower suites as well as a dedicated relaxation room. The relaxation area features upholstered loungers and softer lighting intended to provide a quieter environment for passengers in transit.
Designed by London-based studio Studioilse, led by Ilse Crawford, The Pier Business Class Lounge focuses on creating a calm and comfortable environment inspired by contemporary Hong Kong design. The lounge decor combines natural materials such as limestone, cherry wood, leather, and soft textiles to create a warm and understated aesthetic. Greenery is incorporated throughout the lounge, and a selection of artwork from Hong Kong-based artists adds local character to the space. Lighting and acoustics have also been carefully considered to maintain a quieter and more comfortable atmosphere despite the lounge’s size.
3. Cathay Pacific Airbus A330 Fleet
The Cathay Pacific Airbus A330 fleet continues to play an important role across the airline’s regional and medium-haul network in Asia. As of 2026, the carrier operates 43 Airbus A330-300 aircraft, making it one of the largest A330 operators in the world. The aircraft have an average age of around 17 years, with several planes currently undergoing cabin refurbishments as part of Cathay Pacific’s broader fleet modernization program.
While Cathay Pacific increasingly uses newer Airbus A350 aircraft on long-haul routes, the A330 remains a key part of the airline’s regional operations. The A330 is primarily deployed on high-density regional routes from Hong Kong to destinations across Asia, including cities in Japan, mainland China, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The aircraft is particularly well suited to these medium-haul sectors thanks to its spacious cabin layout and operational flexibility.
Cathay Pacific recently announced an order for 30 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft, which will gradually replace the older A330-300 fleet from 2028 onwards. The new-generation aircraft will offer improved fuel efficiency, updated cabins, and greater flexibility for both regional and longer-haul services.
4. Business Class Cabin
On this particular Airbus A330, Business Class was configured with 24 seats spread across four rows in a single 2-2-2 cabin. While this is not Cathay Pacific’s most competitive premium product, it remains perfectly adequate for shorter regional sectors, especially on daytime flights of two to four hours. The design of the Business Class cabin felt functional, with neutral tones and grey fabric seat covers creating a calm atmosphere. While the overall aesthetic reflected an older generation of Cathay Pacific interiors, the cabin still felt well maintained and relatively timeless. A colorful artwork displayed on the rear bulkhead added a welcome contrast to the otherwise muted palette.
5. Business Class Seat (+ Best & Worst Seats)
The Cathay Pacific Business Class seat on this particular Airbus A330 was based on a shell-style recliner design. Instead of reclining backwards into the space of the passenger behind, the seat slid forwards within its fixed shell, helping to preserve personal space throughout the cabin. The seat’s generous 45-inch (114 cm) pitch and 20-inch (51 cm) seat width provided a comfortable amount of personal space for a short daytime flight.
One of the main drawbacks of the seat was the complete lack of storage space as there were no dedicated storage areas around the seat. Privacy was also virtually non-existent, with no divider or shell separating passengers from one another.
The entertainment screen felt very small and old-fashioned by current standards. A tray table was stored below the TV screen and folded out from the seatback ahead; it could be extended further when needed for dining or working. Universal 110V power outlets were located halfway along the center panel separating the paired seats, making it relatively easy to charge devices during the flight.
Seat controls were entirely manual and integrated into the center armrest, allowing adjustments to both the recline and legrest independently. Recline itself remained fairly limited, and the seat was far from lie-flat — or even angled-flat — though for a two-hour daytime flight the overall comfort level was still perfectly acceptable.
What are the best Business Class seats in Cathay Pacific’s A330 Business Class?
- For passengers traveling together, the paired set-up of both the window and center seats works reasonably well.
- IMHO, the best seats are the window seats in the last row of the cabin (15A and 15K). These seats tend to feel slightly quieter, with less foot traffic compared to the front rows near the galley and lavatories. They also offer a bit more privacy than the center seats, even if privacy overall remains very limited in this configuration.
What are the worst Business Class seats in Cathay Pacific’s A330 Business Class?
- In this particular 2-2-2 regional Business Class cabin, the seats are generally very similar, though there are still a few rows worth avoiding. The worst seats are typically the bulkhead seats in the first row, especially since bassinets are installed for families traveling with infants. These seats are also closest to the galley and lavatory area, meaning more noise and passenger movement throughout the flight.
Click here for a seat map of Cathay Pacific’s A330 Business Class.
6. Amenities & Bedding
On this short regional flight, the onboard offering was kept fairly minimal given the roughly two-hour duration. An amenity kit was not provided, which is typical for a sector of this length, but Business Class passengers were still offered a pillow and a lightweight duvet, making it easy to settle in if you wanted to rest during the journey.
7. Meals
A full breakfast menu was served shortly after takeoff, and passengers were given a printed menu to choose from. The meal consisted of a selection of seasonal fresh fruit and fruit yoghurt, along with a choice of main courses, all served together on a single tray. Options included a Western-style crepe with scrambled eggs, chorizo-style sausage, portobello mushrooms, vine tomato, and potatoes, or a dim sum selection. I opted for the dim sum, which featured items like a chicken beancurd roll, shrimp fun gor, pork siu mai, a seafood dumpling with spinach skin, and a sticky rice roll. While it was nicely presented and appropriate for the route, I found it fairly standard rather than especially memorable in flavour or texture. Still, for such a short flight, the fact that a proper multi-choice hot meal service was offered felt generous.
8. Entertainment
The in-flight entertainment system featured a very small touchscreen, which made the overall experience feel somewhat dated. However, despite the compact display, there was still a decent selection of movies and TV shows available, offering enough variety to keep passengers entertained on this shorter regional flight.
9. Onboard Internet
Business Class passengers received complimentary Wi-Fi on this flight, allowing full internet access for the duration of the journey at no additional cost. For other passengers, Cathay Pacific offered different Wi-Fi packages depending on usage. A messaging-only option was available for around USD 3.95, while a 1-hour internet pass cost approximately USD 9.95. For full-flight access, the price was about USD 12.95 for unlimited connectivity throughout the journey.
10. Final Thoughts & My Verdict
Overall, Cathay Pacific’s regional Business Class experience felt somewhat mixed. The older 2-2-2 cabin on the A330 was clearly dated and lacked the privacy and direct aisle access of more modern products, yet it remained comfortable enough for a short intra-Asia sector and was supported by the airline’s consistently strong soft product, with attentive service and a well-executed meal service. From a value perspective, redeeming 10,000 Avios plus €63.02 in taxes was an excellent deal, especially for a Business Class ticket on this route, and a satisfying way to use up the last balance in my British Airways account.
Here’s my verdict for Cathay Pacific’s regional Business Class on the Airbus A330:
- Seat comfort (upright): 6/10
- Seat comfort (bed position): 3/10
- Food (quality): 7/10
- Food (quantity): 6/10
- Inflight entertainment : 6/10
- WiFi: 8/10
- Service: 9/10
- Cabin design: 3/10
- Overall experience: mediocre – 6.5/10
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