Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. is doubling down on its long-haul expansion with the first purchase of Boeing Co. widebody aircraft in a dozen years, while it struggles closer to home with its HK Express unit suffering from a sharp drop in regional demand.

The Hong Kong flag carrier said it will buy Boeing jets valued at about US$8 billion as it posted a slight increase in first-half profit on higher passenger volumes and lower fuel prices.

Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways on Wednesday ordered 14 more Boeing 777-9 jets and reported a 1% increase in first-half profit on the back of growing passenger numbers, lower fuel prices and a steady cargo performance.

Astronaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore announced his retirement Wednesday after 25 years with NASA and serving as a U.S. Navy test pilot before becoming an astronaut. Wilmore, 62, and astronaut Suni Williams gained a lot of media attention when their 10-day Boeing Starliner test flight turned into a nine-month stay on the International Space Station after lifting off on June 5,

Captain Butch Wilmore retires from NASA after flying Boeing Starliner's first crewed test mission and completing five spacewalks at International Space Station.

Veteran NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore has retired after 25 years of service, after completing the troubled Boeing Starliner mission. Wilmore, who flew on four different spacecraft and logged 464 days in space,