Hong Kong Airlines first airline in Hong Kong to operate service to Daxing and both international airports in Beijing
Hong Kong Airlines today celebrated the launch of its second Beijing route, offering four-times weekly service connecting Hong Kong and the Beijing Daxing International Airport. The inaugural flight marked a significant milestone for Hong Kong Airlines as it made HKA the first local airline in Hong Kong to operate service to Daxing and also both international airports in Beijing.
A celebratory event was held at Hong Kong International Airport to commemorate the launch of the first new service since the start of the pandemic. HKA Chairman Mr Hou Wei and Commercial Director Mr John Zheng officiated the ceremony, together with representatives from Airport Authority Hong Kong including Mr Steven Yiu, Executive Director, Airport Operations, and Mr Michael Yuen, General Manager, Hub Development.
HKA also shared joyful moments by interacting with passengers and distributing souvenirs at the boarding gate. The inaugural flight HX308 departed Hong Kong at 0935 and arrived in Daxing Airport at 1255.
Hong Kong Airlines’ first flight landing at Beijing Daxing International Airport was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute to congratulate the growth of route network. HKA management, Beijing Daxing International Airport representatives, as well as distinguished guests, held an inaugural ceremony with the theme “Hong Kong, Long Time No See” at the check-in counter, welcoming passengers onboarding the first flight to Hong Kong. Through artistic installations filled with Hong Kong’s unique cultural elements, passengers were treated to an immersive inaugural experience.
In his opening remarks, HKA Chairman Hou Wei said: “Hong Kong Airlines is honored to be the first local carrier in Hong Kong to offer services at Beijing Daxing Airport, and opening this route will further strengthen the Company’s’ market position in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region.”
What’s more, today’s inaugural flights achieved a very encouraging 90% load factor performance. “Benefiting from the unprecedented pent-up demand for travel, we’ll increase flight service between Hong Kong and Beijing. In the pipeline, our flights between Hong Kong and Daxing Airport will turn daily starting from 26 March, whilst we also look to gradually increase service between Hong Kong and Beijing Capital Airport from the current once-a-day to two to three flights a day, providing customers with highly flexible travel options by seamless connections under one ticket and direct baggage connections to our other regional flights,” said Mr Hou.
With the lifting of travel restrictions in China and around the world, HKA continues to adjust its network strategies to accelerate the resumption of regional flights. It expects to increase flight operations to 44 sectors per day by April 2023, reaching 45% of those at the pre-pandemic level; flying to 18 regional destinations including Tokyo, Osaka, Okinawa, Sapporo, Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok, Manila, Hanoi, Bali, Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing, Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai Pudong, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Chengdu and Haikou, which is 50% of the operation level before the pandemic.
In addition, the Company is also launching a new direct service to Fukuoka in April, to further expand its regional network. Additionally, more flights will be added in the summer to cope with peak season demand.
