Hong Kong-based global carrier Cathay Pacific is advancing its strategic expansion across Latin America and the Caribbean through a new codeshare partnership with Spanish airline Iberia, which adds Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, to its growing global route network. This collaboration will enable passengers to book seamless through-travel between Hong Kong and the Dominican Republic, with a single connection through Madrid Barajas Airport.
Notably, this new agreement marks the first time that the Dominican Republic, alongside Argentina, has joined Cathay Pacific’s official network, filling a long-standing gap in the carrier’s coverage of the Latin American region. The move is designed to deepen air connectivity between the Asian hub of Hong Kong and diverse markets across Central America and the Caribbean, opening new travel opportunities for both leisure and business passengers.
To accommodate the growing demand created by this network expansion, Cathay Pacific has outlined plans to upgrade its existing Hong Kong-Madrid route. Starting October 25, 2026, the carrier will increase service frequency from four weekly rotations to a daily operation, adding three extra flights on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays to the schedule. This frequency boost will not only support the new codeshare connections but also improve travel options for passengers heading directly to Spain or transferring to other European destinations.
Beyond the addition of Santo Domingo, Cathay Pacific also revealed that it will launch new codeshare services to two additional Brazilian destinations: Fortaleza, a popular coastal tourism hub in northeastern Brazil, and Recife, another major urban and economic center in the same region. Like the Santo Domingo route, these new connections will also route through Madrid, leveraging Iberia’s existing extensive network across Latin America.
Prior to this latest round of expansion, Cathay Pacific already operated codeshare services with partner airlines covering key destinations across Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and Chile. The inclusion of Santo Domingo extends the carrier’s reach into the Caribbean, creating more flexible travel itineraries for passengers moving between Asian markets and the Caribbean-Latin American region. Industry analysts note that the expansion aligns with Cathay Pacific’s broader post-pandemic strategy of rebuilding and growing its global network by tapping into under-served emerging markets through strategic partnership rather than costly independent route launches.