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, as passenger and cargo traffic grew despite the Middle East war. 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. The United States and Israeli strike on Iran on February 28 triggered a war...