HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong flagship carrier Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd (>> Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd) said on Wednesday its third-largest shareholder, Kingboard Chemical Holdings Ltd (>> Kingboard Chemical Holdings Limited), had not approached the airline regarding any plans to raise its stake in the company.

Cathay Pacific Chairman John Slosar was speaking after the airline posted its worst first-half loss in at least 20 years, as it continued to lose customers to mainland Chinese competitors and booked higher costs.

(Reporting by Donny Kwok; Writing by Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)