Hong Kong Airlines to launch new direct routes to Melbourne and Lijiang

Hong Kong Airlines will roll out a new direct service to Melbourne and Lijiang in Yunnan province as part of an aggressive network expansion, with the carrier pledging to capitalise on the increased capacity of the city’s international airport.

The carrier said on Friday it would operate its direct service to Melbourne three times a week from December 12 using an Airbus A330 aircraft. The flight schedule will be flexibly timed to facilitate connections for passengers transiting through Hong Kong to popular destinations such as Vancouver, Bali, Tokyo and Osaka, it added.

On Thursday, the company said it would launch the service between Hong Kong and Lijiang three times a week from September 8, using an Airbus A320 aircraft as the sole local carrier operating the route.

Following the launch of services to Hulunbuir and Xi’an, Lijiang will become the airline’s third new mainland China destination this year.

“This move aligns with the company’s strategy to continuously develop its mainland China network and provide travellers with more diverse travel options,” it said.

“The new route … also facilitates convenient connections for transit passengers travelling on the airline’s long-haul routes, such as Sydney and Vancouver, thereby strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a leading international aviation hub.”

Hong Kong Airlines’ president Jeff Sun Jianfeng said the new destination of Melbourne would boost its Australian network following the resumption of its Gold Coast service in January and the launch of the Sydney route in June.