It was not acceptable for bosses who immediately sent the plane back to be repainted.
"Oops ... She's going back to the shop!" a company social media staffer joked on Twitter.
Cathay Pacific has given visitors to Hong Kong airport a surprise by spelling its name wrong on the side of a plane.
"No f's were given that day", quipped Aghiad Haloul, while Frank L asked if "CATHAY PACFFC" was on the other side of the fuselage. "No one gives a F anymore, not even the painters!" said one Twitter user.
The airline shared an image of a glaring error on an aircraft livery.
Some social media users found the error amusing while others saw it as a sign of declining standards across the airline industry.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that an engineer for Haeco, a sister company of the airline, was baffled by the mistake which could cost thousands of dollars to correct.
But if it is a genuine error many travellers are glad the airline "can have a laugh about this in public". "We have stencils. [There] should be a blank gap in between letters if it was a real mistake".
"Excellent attitude on behalf of the company!" said another.