Hong Kong Airlines will launch flights to Urumqi in far western China in August and to Melbourne later, after making an ambitious comeback from a debt crisis three years ago and recording a 60 per cent year-on-year rise in passenger numbers in 2024.
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In an exclusive interview with the Post, airline president Jeff Sun Jianfeng said the airline, once struggling with losses and debts, had returned to profitability in 2023 after Hong Kong opened up to post-Covid international travel.
He also noted that its ridership had hit 5 million last year, up 60 per cent from 2023.
“Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Hong Kong Airlines was actually doing quite well, with many travellers already having a fondness for and awareness of our brand,” he said.
“During the pandemic, Hong Kong Airlines underwent a significant restructuring. After that, we made a comeback to kick-start our recovery journey.
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“With our continuous network expansion, including key long-haul routes to Vancouver and Sydney this year, we’ve already returned as a global full-service airline.”