Cathay Pacific Airways is able to rebuild the airline and Hong Kong’s hub standing because it emerges from the pandemic, the service’s chief government stated on Wednesday after it reported a 2022 loss on the low finish of forecasts.

Cathay shares rose as a lot as 1.4% to 7.95 Hong Kong {dollars} after the outcomes have been launched, reversing morning losses and beating a 2.4% drop within the broader market as buyers wager on a turnaround following heavy losses throughout the pandemic.

“We have been very inspired to see a brilliant mild on the finish of the tunnel within the second half of 2022, and the optimistic momentum has continued into 2023,” Chief Govt Officer Ronald Lam stated in a press release.

“After three brutal years of the Covid-19 pandemic, we now have lastly entered into a brand new thrilling section, during which we’ll rebuild Cathay Pacific for Hong Kong.”

The airline reported an annual lack of HK$6.55 billion ($834.4 million) for the 12 months ended Dec. 31, wider than the earlier yr’s loss however close to the underside of its January forecast for a lack of between HK$6.4 billion and HK$7 billion.

Analysts had anticipated a mean annual lack of HK$4.4 billion, in line with Refinitiv information. They forecast a HK$3.9 billion revenue for this yr now that Hong Kong and mainland China have ended border restrictions.

Cathay had parked a lot of its fleet within the desert throughout the pandemic due an absence of demand and its restoration has lagged behind conventional rival Singapore Airways, which confronted much less strict guidelines final yr.

The airline was badly hit by Covid-related flight cancellations, border closures and strict quarantine measures for crew, leading to drastic headcount reductions.

Cathay stated it was working about one-third of pre-pandemic passenger flight capability by December and ended the yr working passenger flights to 58 locations, double the 29 locations the airline flew to in January 2022.

It could function at about 70% of its prepandemic passenger flight capability by the tip of 2023, with an intention to return to pre-pandemic ranges by the tip of 2024. It was working about two-thirds of pre-pandemic cargo flight capability ranges by the tip of 2022.