Through the years, I’ve lined fairly just a few inaugural flights into Seattle. They’re at all times a hoot, however usually there aren’t many surprises. Properly, when Cathay Pacific Airways did an inaugural flight to Seattle (SEA) from Hong Kong (HKG) on March 30, they did issues a bit otherwise, and in a grand means. Not solely did I get to expertise the conventional pleasure of being on the ramp to greet the plane, however there was additionally a enjoyable shock on the gate; plus the airline held a grand gala occasion later within the night.
The day began after I awoke and opened FlightRadar24 to see which plane was en route. As anticipated, it was an Airbus A350-900, and it had registration B-LRJ. Then I seen the picture: it was the retro livery. Booya!
I rapidly received some AvGeek goose bumps (sure, that may be a factor). The airline calls it the “lettuce sandwich” retro livery and it has a particular place in my AvGeek coronary heart. Lengthy earlier than the web was a factor, I bear in mind L1011s in that very livery in one in all my airline books. It was one in all my favorites. I by no means received the possibility to see it in individual, so right here was my alternative. And, it was further particular as a result of this was additionally the primary time that this retro livery can be flying to the U.S.
As with most of those inaugurals, media and invited friends met on the terminal, and had been taken by worker safety. We had been then escorted to the gate (S12), the place there have been snacks, a enjoyable backdrop for speeches, and fairly just a few passengers who didn’t fairly know what all of the hoopla was about. Quickly the neon security vests had been handed out to the media — you at all times know good occasions are about to occur if you see these vests!
Subsequent, we had been escorted to the ramp and given a brief security briefing. I might see the 2 airport hearth vans parked and able to give a water cannon salute. Final time I lined an inaugural, I received soaked as a result of wind, so I positioned myself a bit higher because it was a lot colder and it wouldn’t have been enjoyable.
Quickly Cathay’s fashionable A350 retro livery landed and was arrange for the water cannons. It was excellent timing for the reason that airport was foggy whereas we waited for the flight, however the solar burst by the clouds hitting the brilliant inexperienced paint simply after the streams of water had been shut off. The inexperienced sparkled within the solar — it was stunning!
As I took photographs, I additionally seen the starboard wingtip passing above. I felt I might virtually attain out to the touch it (I opted to not strive). After of us had been finished taking their photographs and selfies with the plane, we had been escorted again inside to the gate for the festivities.
There have been the usual speeches you may count on from leaders with the Port of Seattle and Cathay Pacific, and a ribbon chopping to mark the beginning of the inaugural flight.
Nonetheless, there was a particular a part of the celebration that made me smile: the lion dance. Attempting to clarify it with just a few photographs and phrases doesn’t do it justice, so remember to take a look at this quick 17s video. The characters even danced among the many passengers ready for the flight. It was fairly the scene!
Quickly it was time to attend for the flight to depart. We went to a personal viewing spot on the airport’s roof and it didn’t even matter that the flight was a bit delayed. I used to be having a good time watching all of the airliners come and go. Plus, I received to see Alaska’s new 787 for the primary time in individual (I gotta say it appears to be like snazzy).
Then it was the Lettuce Sandwich’s flip, and the A350 pulled out, lined up on runway 34R, and took off headed to Hong Kong.
Usually that might be the top of the celebration, however not for Cathay. They held a flowery gala occasion on the Chihuly Backyard and Glass on the base of the Area Needle in downtown Seattle that very same night. So, after just a few hours of relaxation, I dressed up in my go well with and headed out.
There was good meals, good folks (about 200 in attendance), and enjoyable little aspect exhibits, akin to having the ability to get a custom-made passport cowl or distinctive sweet made proper in entrance of you. This type of occasion jogged my memory extra of airways celebrating their first 787 again within the day than it did an inaugural flight. It was all fairly spectacular.
The airline shall be flying to Seattle 5 occasions per week, and that is their ninth U.S. vacation spot. The airline beforehand flew to Seattle, and stopped service again in 2020 as a result of covid pandemic. They’re hoping to remain in Seattle long-term and never have a necessity for a 3rd inaugural flight.
British Airways Membership Suite Enterprise Class, London Heathrow to New York JFK
