Cathay turned to Boeing. In the US, marketing and intense competition meant that airlines were engaged in a constant race to have the latest fleet. As well as feeding the market with new aircraft, Boeing also ran a very successful secondhand division; and through this, Cathay bought four of Northwest Orient’s older 707-320Bs. The airline would later go on to buy 12 of its 707s, mainly the intercontinental 320C models.

At the same time, Boeing had introduced a new 707 cabin with a ‘wide-body’ look for those airlines unable to afford the expensive 747. Cathay Pacific’s secondhand 707 fleet featured sculpted cabin walls, new baggage bins, lights and seating. These would be fitted on delivery in Hong Kong, along with the 320C’s strengthened undercarriage that would allow for greater landing weights, suiting the airline’s short-haul and multi-stop routes.