Another new face on the Australian travel landscape with the inaugural Hong Kong Airlines (HKA) flight arriving Down Under.
Flight HX017 touched down at 9.30am at Sydney Airport on Saturday, enabled by the first expansion of bilateral air traffic rights between Hong Kong and Australia in nearly two decades.
The new daily service boosts seat capacity on the route by nearly 20 per cent with Hong Kong now Sydney Airport’s third busiest route after Singapore and Auckland.
“We’re proud to welcome Hong Kong Airlines to Sydney as our 52nd airline partner with its strong reputation for service excellence, efficiency and value,” said Scott Charlton, Sydney Airport CEO.
Established in 2006, Hong Kong Airlines currently flies to 30 cities and popular destinations in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as more than 100 destinations worldwide.
“As a full-service local carrier, the launch of our Sydney service marks a significant step in our transformation from a regional to an international airline,” said Mr Jeff Sun, President, Hong Kong Airlines.
“While Hong Kong Airlines may be a younger brand in the mature Australian market, we are endeavouring in our commitment to providing quality service.”
The airline will operate its Sydney service using an Airbus A330-300 aircraft, featuring 292 seats – 32 business class seats in a 2-2-2 configuration and 260 economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout.
The aircraft offers inflight entertainment, hot meals and generous baggage allowances, reflecting HKA’s commitment to comfort, quality and efficiency on long-haul routes.
“Expanding traffic rights delivers far-reaching benefits – from greater choice and connectivity for passengers to stronger opportunities for tourism, trade and investment,” added Mr Charlton.
“A daily service like this is estimated to generate up to $120 million annually for the local economy, reinforcing the critical role aviation plays in driving prosperity across the region.”
