Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd 0293.HK posted on Wednesday a first-half loss of HK$5 billion ($637 million), narrowing from the prior year’s HK$7.57 billion, as easing quarantine rules boosted passenger numbers.

The airline said in June it expected a lower first-half loss than the prior year, though it warned the figure would still be “substantial”.

Source: Civil Aviation Authority-Qatar