It’s nice when things that have fallen apart fall back into place.

Until today, all but one of the international carriers that stopped flying out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) during the COVID-19 pandemic have resumed service.

The one hold-out: Cathay Pacific.

The Hong Kong-based carrier began flying between Seattle and Hong Kong on March 31, 2019 and stopped in March 2020, due to the pandemic.

The carrier resumed service on March 30,, 2026 – almost exactly 6 years after putting the flights on pause.

The inaugural flight for the rebooted service kicked off with the arrival at SEA of Cathay Pacific’s A350 aircraft adorned with the carrier’s classic “lettuce leave sandwich” livery.

The flight was welcomed with a water cannon salute and a lion dance, snacks and a ceremonial ribbon cutting at the gate.

Cathay Pacific will now fly between SEA and Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) year-round, five times per week on a 250-seat Airbus A350-900 aircraft with 38 Business, 28 Premium Economy and 214 Economy seats.

The StuckatTheAirport.com airline review team is planning its return trip to Hong Kong soon.

Here’s a photo from Cathay Pacific’s last inaugural flight from Seattle to Hong Kong – in 2019.

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