Cathay Pacific's 80th anniversary retro-livery Airbus A350-900 B-LRJ operated flight CX422 from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) on the morning of October 5. The flight was originally scheduled to depart at 7:10 a.m. Taipei time and arrive at Taoyuan at 8:55 a.m., providing aviation photographers in Taiwan with another opportunity to capture the special-livery aircraft.
The latest Flightradar24 aircraft records show that CX422 was indeed operated by B-LRJ, an Airbus A350-941 with ICAO type code A359. The aircraft departed Hong Kong at about 7:43 a.m., somewhat later than scheduled, while the system at one point showed an estimated arrival at Taoyuan of around 9:09 a.m. Actual landing time could still vary depending on routing, traffic and air traffic control arrangements.
B-LRJ is one of Cathay Pacific's special-livery aircraft introduced to celebrate the airline's 80th anniversary. Its fuselage revives the classic green-and-white striped 'lettuce leaf sandwich' design and adds a prominent '80' anniversary marking. Cathay Pacific has said the livery was widely used across its fleet from the 1970s to the early 1990s and remains a familiar historic design among aviation enthusiasts.
The A350-900 entered regular commercial service after receiving the 80th anniversary livery in January 2026. It is not assigned to a fixed route and instead operates to different international destinations according to Cathay Pacific's fleet scheduling. Cathay has previously arranged for B-LRJ to visit Singapore Changi Airport and Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport to showcase the anniversary livery, with each appearance drawing attention from local aviation enthusiasts.
Cathay Pacific officially refers to the retro design as the 'lettuce leaf sandwich' livery, while some Hong Kong aviation enthusiasts also call it 'Dai Chai.' In addition to B-LRJ, Cathay Cargo has recreated the same 80th anniversary retro concept on a Boeing 747-8F, reflecting the airline group's passenger and cargo history since its founding in 1946.
With B-LRJ assigned to CX422 today, aviation enthusiasts planning to photograph the aircraft around Taoyuan Airport can choose locations based on the morning's actual flight status and runway configuration. Aircraft assignment, arrival time and runway use can still change at short notice, so spotters should check the latest flight-tracking and airport operational information before heading out.
