Cathay Pacific Airlines Inaugural Inbound Flights 1967

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRLINES INAUGURAL INBOUND FLIGHTS – 1967 From the Civil Aeronautics Board Release (CAB) 67-49, April 7, 1967: President Lyndon B. Johnson has approved the decision of the US Civil Aeronautics Board issuing a foreign air carrier permit to Cathay Pacific Airways, Limited. The permit authorizes Cathay Pacific to engage in foreign air transportation of person’s property and mail between Hong Kong, Taipei, and Okinawa. On October 2, 1967, Cathay Pacific Airlines landed for the first time at Naha. Captain Simon Creasy had the honor of making the first landing of Cathay Pacific Airlines (CPA) on Okinawa. The new service is starting as a once-a-week basis. Directorate General of Posts issued a Philatelic Release No. 1 on September 26, 1967 to publicize the inauguration of Cathay Pacific Airways and will offer first flight covers.

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRLINES INAUGURAL INBOUND FLIGHTS – 1967 Hong Kong Naha FR79 October 1, 1967, Hong Kong Naha. Large (292 x 219 mm) covers with printed multicolor cachet and return address were prepared by the airlines. While cancellation is October 1, both printed boxed cachet noting first flight and backstamp are October 2. Number of covers produced by Cathay Pacific Airlines and dispatched was 2,000 pieces.

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRLINES INAUGURAL INBOUND FLIGHTS – 1967 Naha Hong Kong FR80 October 2, 1967, Naha Hong Kong. Large (292 x 219 mm) printed covers with printed multicolor cachet and return address were prepared by the airlines. Cancellation is October 3, and blue rubber stamped “Via Air Mail: in capitals without serifs. Number of covers produced by Cathay Pacific Airlines and dispatched was 2,000 pieces.

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRLINES INAUGURAL INBOUND FLIGHTS – 1967 Usually the covers were large and a few were prepared on smaller covers Backstamp, machine cancel, August 3, 1967

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRLINES INAUGURAL INBOUND FLIGHTS – 1967 FR81 October 2, 1967, Taipei, Taiwan Naha FR81 October 2, 1967, Taipei, Taiwan Naha. Large (292 x 219 mm) printed covers with printed multicolor cachet and return address similar to FR79 were prepared by the Public Relations section of Cathay Pacific Airlines. Black boxed printed cachet notes “First Cathay Flight.” Five line magenta rubber stamp cachet with two lines of Chinese characters and then English Text, “Via first flight of Taipei-Okinawa line of the Cathay/Pacific Airways.” The covers were backstamped October 2.

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRLINES INAUGURAL INBOUND FLIGHTS – 1967 FR81 variety Backstamp, Naha, October 2, 1967

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRLINES INAUGURAL INBOUND FLIGHTS – 1967 Smaller sized Cover FR81 October 2, 1967, Taipei Naha. Smaller sized cover (219 x 146mm), backstamp Naha, October 2, 1967. 500 of the cacheted smaller sized covers were produced. Backstamp Naha, October 2, 1967 On October 2, 1967, Cathay Pacific Airways had their first flight from Taipei to Naha. The First Flight announcement date came too late for anyone to prepare their own order but the Directorate General of Posts of the Republic of China ordered 500 special First Flight cacheted covers to be made available for collectors. The number of covers produced by Cathay Pacific Airlines and dispatched was 1,000 pieces. [It’s not known if this total includes the 500 arranged cacheted covers for sale by the Philatelic Agency. These are the smaller sized covers].

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRLINES INAUGURAL OUTBOUND FLIGHTS – 1967 Naha Taipei, Taiwan FR82 October 2, 1967, Naha Taipei, Taiwan. Large (292 x 219 mm) printed covers with printed multicolor cachet and return address similar to FR81 with rubber stamped “Air Mail” in blue letters with serifs. The covers were backstamped October 2. Number of covers produced by Cathay Pacific Airlines and dispatched was 1,000 pieces.

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRLINES INAUGURAL OUTBOUND FLIGHTS – 1967 Also known on uncacheted, regular size cover with blue rubber stamped “Via Air Mail” without serifs Backstamp, Taipei, October 2, 1967

permit authorizes Cathay Pacific to engage in foreign air transportation of person's property and mail between Hong Kong, Taipei, and Okinawa. On October 2, 1967, Cathay Pacific Airlines landed for the first time at Naha. Captain Simon Creasy had the honor of making the first landing of Cathay Pacific Airlines (CPA) on Okinawa.