Cathay Pacific expects first-half profit to jump 75% to HK$6.5 billion

Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways expects its first-half net profit to jump by as much as 75 per cent to HK$6.5 billion (US$829 million) from HK$3.7 billion a year earlier, driven partly by growth in passenger and cargo traffic. The airline said on Wednesday that earnings were also boosted by a one-off gain of about HK$1.4 billion from the dilution of its interest in Air China following a share sale. It said it expected net profit to range between HK$6 billion and HK$6.5 billion…