Cathay 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 of a nomadic people who founded the Liao Empire which ruled much of today's Northern China from 907 to 1125, and who later migrated west after they were overthrown by the
Cathay Pacific fleet ceremony in Toulouse, the aircraft was painted in a "100th aircraft" livery with the slogan "100th aircraft", and the slogan in traditional Chinese "進步精神" painted on the rear of the aircraft. The aircraft was named "Progress Hong Kong", a name that was chosen from a competition by the staff. In November 2011, Cathay Pacific received its second 747-8 Freighter (B-LJA) which was painted in the "Hong Kong Trader" livery. The livery was designed to commemorate the topping out of the new Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal. The name of the livery is taken from Cathay Pacific's very first 747 freighter which