Transport
Cathay Pacific Marks 80 Years: A Look Behind the Scenes at Airport Operations
As Cathay Pacific celebrates its 80th anniversary, long-serving staff highlight the evolution of ground operations and the enduring importance of service.
On the occasion of Cathay Pacific’s 80th anniversary, Khaosod Online Thailand featured the perspective of Wanpen 'Pui' Prapaipoom, a Duty Airport Operations Manager with over 35 years of experience. Her career offers a window into the significant transformation of air travel, moving from the era of handwritten tickets to today’s digital, fingertip-accessible systems.
For travelers and residents, this retrospective underscores the complex logistical work occurring behind the scenes to ensure smooth journeys. Prapaipoom recalled the intense pressure of the pre-digital era, citing an instance where she had to manually rewrite a complex five-continent, 18-flight itinerary for a passenger in Bangkok before check-in closed. This highlights the evolution of airline efficiency and the critical role of ground staff in managing unexpected travel disruptions.
While the technology powering aviation has changed drastically, the report emphasizes that the airline’s core focus remains on service quality. For passengers, this serves as a reminder of the human element involved in airport operations, even as digital automation becomes the standard. It remains to be seen how the airline will further integrate new technologies to support its ground staff in the coming years as it moves beyond its eight-decade milestone.