Hong Kong Airlines has announced its official re-entry into the long-haul international market and is set to reinstate its direct service to the Gold Coast on 17 January 2025, operating four times a week.This initiative will offer travelers enhanced connectivity between Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and the Gold Coast.
Additionally, the airline will recommence its Vancouver route on 18 January 2025, with flights scheduled twice weekly.
This strategic decision reflects the airline’s evolution from a regional carrier to a global airline, emphasizing the expansion of its international route network.
Following a successful restructuring last year, Hong Kong Airlines has been diligently enhancing its services and broadening its operations. Through meticulous strategic planning, the airline has showcased its robust recovery capabilities by optimizing its route network and refining its fleet structure, which now encompasses over 30 destinations.
This year, the number of flight sectors has fully returned to pre-pandemic levels, achieving an average passenger load factor of around 85%. The airline anticipates meeting its annual target of transporting over 5 million passengers by the conclusion of 2024.
Furthermore, bookings for the Christmas and Lunar New Year periods have already reached 85%, with ski resort routes in Northeast Asia seeing a booking rate of 90%. In light of this strong demand, the airline plans to increase flight frequencies on relevant routes starting in December.
In order to facilitate its business expansion, Hong Kong Airlines has made substantial additions to its fleet this year, incorporating several Airbus A330-300 wide-body aircraft to enhance its medium- to long-haul services. Furthermore, the airline has launched its inaugural A321 aircraft, which features a configuration of 220 all-economy class seats, aimed at boosting passenger capacity and improving operational efficiency. By the conclusion of this year, Hong Kong Airlines anticipates that its fleet will reach approximately 30 aircraft, with plans to continue expanding the fleet size as necessary to further enhance its capacity.
The varied fleet configuration will provide increased flight flexibility and coverage, enabling passengers to enjoy convenient access from Hong Kong to sought-after tourist destinations across mainland China, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, the United States, Canada, and Europe. In addition to managing its own routes, the airline will persist in collaborating with partners to broaden its codeshare network, facilitate seamless sea-land-air intermodal transportation, and endeavor to enhance service diversity.
