Hong Kong Airlines will resume direct flights between the city and Gold Coast in Australia from January next year, the carrier’s first step back into the long-haul market amid an expansion of its network, including a possible return to the North American market. The airline announced on Thursday that flights to Gold Coast would operate seasonally from January 17 to February 15, with the four-times-a-week service running for five weeks over the Lunar New Year period. It will offer around 6,000 seats on an A330 widebody aircraft.
Jeff Sun, the company’s chairman, said Hong Kong Airlines was the first local carrier to bring back the Australian route, signalling the beginning of its return to the long-haul market. “The route launch will mark our first step back into the long-haul market as we are gradually introducing more aircraft to support the expansion of our route network,” he said. “This includes actively exploring a return to the North American market, with routes to Vancouver, Toronto, Los Angeles and Seattle under consideration.
” Sun said they expected Gold Coast would become a popular destination for travellers, not only from Hong Kong but also from its extensive network in mainland China. “They will be able to enjoy the beautiful weather, stunning coastline and exciting activities that Queensland has to offer, further strengthening the cultural, tourism and business ties between these regions,” he said. Queensland Airports Limited Chief Executive Officer Amelia Evans said the move underscored the mainland as an important market for its country.
“China has always been a critical visitor market for the Gold Coast and Queensland more broadly, so reconnecting to Hong Kong marks a positive step forward in our international recovery journey,” she said. Queensland Minister for Tourism and Sport Michael Healy highlighted that the new route will reconnect Gold Coast Airport with Hong Kong for the first time in six years, bringing Asian visitors better access to southeast Queensland’s holiday offerings. Hong Kong Airlines’ decision aligns with an effort by local carriers to expand their destinations to boost business growth amid growing competition.
Cathay Pacific Airways’ budget arm, HK Express, announced last week to launch a new route between Hong Kong and Malaysia’s Penang International Airport from November 21. It will also launch daily flights between Hong Kong and Vietnam’s Phu Quoc from December 6. The announcement followed city leader John Lee Ka-chiu’s six-day visit to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos earlier, with Cathay Pacific CEO Ronald Lam Siu-por among those in the high-level delegation.
Greater Bay Airlines will also launch direct flights on October 27 between Hong Kong and Yonago, a lesser-known Japanese city in the Tottori prefecture, expanding its network in Japan from Tokyo and Osaka. The new service between Hong Kong and Yonago Kitaro Airport will run three times a week..
