The Hong Kong carrier said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange that the provision increased from 2.8 billion dollars in October as the oil price continued to decline.

It added that weakening customer demand would also hit its year-end results, which it expected to be "disappointing".

"Since (November) revenue has continued to weaken. First and business class traffic in particular have fallen significantly," the statement said.

"This decline and the impact of currency movements have caused a weakening of passenger yields. Advance bookings for the first quarter of 2009 are markedly down on the same period in 2008."

The statement added that the air cargo market out of Hong Kong and mainland China was also struggling.

Cathay said the potential oil hedge loss was booked after the prices tumbled 69 percent between July and the end of the year, although it said its realised losses so far were only 300 million dollars.

Fuel hedging contracts were taken out to counter the high cost of oil earlier in the year.

Cathay Pacific said last month its passenger and cargo traffic continued to drop in November as global demand was hit by the dire economic environment.

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