Cathay the airline would cross the Pacific Ocean from China. Cathay Bank is a bank with multiple branches throughout the United States and overseas. Cathay Cineplex is a cinema operator in Singapore. Cathay Cathay () is an alternative historical name for China in English. During the early modern period Europeans thought of "Cathay" as a completely separate and distinct culture from China. As knowledge of East Asia increased, Cathay came to be seen as the same nation as China and the term '"Cathay" became a poetic name for the nation. The name "Cathay" originates from the word Khitan (), the name
Cathay Organisation company also launched a new corporate identity. Cathay Bowl became Singapore's first bowling centre operator to be awarded ISO 9002 certification by the Productivity and Standards Board (PSB). Cathay took a 19% stake in ACEL International Holdings Ltd, which offered educational enrichment programmes and it was renamed Cathay ACEL Pte Ltd. In 1999, Singapore's first bowling alley to offer cosmic bowling was opened by Cathay Bowl; the 24-lane Cathay Bowl at SAFRA Tampines. That same year, Cathay Cineplex Causeway Point opened marking Cathay Cineplexes' first foray into the suburban districts. Entering the new millennium, Cathay opened its five-screen Mega Pavilion