Hong Kong International Airport

[wanderer34]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

Probably not to either, although they have multiple flights a day to JFK. They just announced they'll add Dallas but Miami is likely too far with their current aircraft for nonstop.

I heard that Qantas is considering returning to Chicago and Miami once they finish their new orders for the A350-1000 aircraft for ultra-long flights (https://karryon.com.au/industry-news/air...-potential-project-sunrise-destinations/; https://upgradedpoints.com/news/qantas-chicago-miami-australia/; https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1476477). Cathay Pacific is a subsidiary of the Swire Group, based in HK (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swire), and the Swire Group's US headquarters is based in Miami (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swire_Properties#United_States_portfolio; https://www.swireproperties.com/en/contact-us/), so I believed that it would be a coincidence that Cathay Pacific flies directly to Miami, as well as provide some flights to Philadelphia.

I was hoping for something similar to happen for Miami and my home city of Philadelphia since in Miami's case, it's the closest city to the Caribbean and South America, and Cathay Pacific doesn't have one flight anywhere that lands in Latin America, and Philadelphia has absolutely no direct flights that goes to Asia despite PA having the 10th largest Asian American population in the US (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Asian_Americans#U.S._states_and_territories). Hopefully it happens in the near future because both cities need it!

[hkskyline]

Fanfare as first C919 commercial flight leaves Hong Kong for Shanghai
South China Morning Post Excerpt
Jan 1, 2025

The first commercial flight from Hong Kong to Shanghai by China’s home-grown C919 aircraft took off on Wednesday, with fans buying tickets to enjoy the experience.

The single-aisle C919, manufactured by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), began operations between Hong Kong and Shanghai on New Year’s Day, marking the airliner’s first regular route outside mainland China.

Flight MU722 of China Eastern Airlines landed at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 3pm, with passengers praising the comfort and amenities on board.

More : Fanfare as first C919 commercial flight leaves Hong Kong for Shanghai

Ming Pao

[hkskyline]

Airport flight numbers soar in January
RTHK Excerpt
Feb 24, 2025

The Airport Authority said January marked a significant milestone for flights taking off and landing at Chek Lap Kok, with the numbers reaching a post-pandemic high.

In a statement, the authority reported a 17 percent increase in flight movements, totalling 33,660 last month. Additionally, the airport handled 5.28 million passengers in the first month of the year, reflecting robust annual growth of 27.8 percent.

The authority added that on January 25, the airport processed over 193,000 passengers, achieving another post-pandemic peak and signalling a complete recovery to pre-pandemic levels.

More : https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1792933-20250224.htm

[hkskyline]

Air passenger departure tax to go up from Oct 1
RTHK Excerpt
March 5, 2025

Travellers purchasing a plane ticket to fly out of Hong Kong from October 1 will have to pay HK$200 in air passenger departure tax (APDT) instead of the current HK$120, the government announced on Wednesday.

The tax increase was announced by Financial Secretary Paul Chan when he delivered his budget blueprint last month. The measure is expected to boost government revenue by about HK$1.6 billion each year.

In a statement, officials say some passengers will continue to be exempted from the tax.

They include passengers under the age of 12, direct transit passengers, those taking connecting flights, as well as passengers who arrive at and depart Hong Kong by plane on the same day.

More : https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1794422-20250305.htm

[hkskyline]

The Cathay Group adds Urumqi as its 20th passenger destination in the Chinese Mainland
Press Release Excerpt
March 7, 2025

Cathay Pacific is pleased to announce another addition to its expanding global network this year with the launch of direct flights between Hong Kong and Urumqi starting 28 April 2025. The new four-times-weekly return service will bring the Cathay Group’s combined passenger network in the Chinese Mainland to 20 destinations.

This summer, Cathay Pacific and low-cost carrier HK Express will operate over 290 return flights per week between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. This includes Beijing (Capital International Airport and Daxing International Airport), Shanghai (Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport), Chengdu, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Sanya, Urumqi, Wenzhou, Wuhan, Xi’an, Xiamen and Zhengzhou.

Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “Urumqi is an exciting new addition to our network, directly connecting our home city with an important Belt and Road hub in Northwestern China. We are delighted to introduce Urumqi as the Cathay Group’s 11th new port announced so far this year, as we move one step closer to reaching 100 destinations globally in 2025.

More : https://news.cathaypacific.com/the-catha...nger-destination-in-the-chinese-mainland

[hkskyline]

Legco passes bill to raise air passenger departure tax
RTHK Excerpt
May 28, 2025

Lawmakers on Wednesday passed a bill to raise the air passenger departure tax from the current HK$120 to HK$200 from October.

The bill was supported by 77 lawmakers, while two voted against it and five abstained.

Undersecretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Joseph Chan said the authorities earlier accepted a recommendation by lawmaker Perry Yiu that passengers who fly in and out of Hong Kong within 48 hours be exempt from the charge.

More : Legco passes bill to raise air passenger departure tax - RTHK

[hkskyline]

UAE airline Emirates seeks to wow Hong Kong with premium travel offerings
South China Morning Post Excerpt
July 22, 2025

Dubai-based airline Emirates has set its sights on Hong Kong’s high-end customers amid growing demand for premium travel, with plans to wow customers from the city with two aircraft retrofitted under the company’s US$5 billion cabin upgrade effort.

The airline also stressed its pledge to promote the tourism offerings in Hong Kong and the Middle East as part of its commitment to strengthening mutual collaboration amid the city’s aggressive push to attract investment from the region, as the number of visitors travelling between the two places continued to grow.

In an interview with the Post last week, Sultan Alriyami, the airline’s area manager for Hong Kong and Macau, said the roll-out of two refurbished aircraft, a Boeing 777 from July 1 and an Airbus A380 from October 1, would support a twice-a-day service between the city and Dubai as demand was strong among local fliers for the airline’s premium classes.

More : https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/tran...fferings?module=top_story&pgtype=section

[hkskyline]

Hong Kong airport’s Terminal 2 is reopening in stages. Here’s what you need to know
South China Morning Post Excerpt
Aug 30, 2025

Hong Kong airport’s revamped second terminal will open in stages from September 23 as part of the city’s efforts to raise its game as an international aviation hub, with a coach hall debuting first.

The Post unpacks what passengers can expect at Terminal 2.

The first phase of operations at the expanded Terminal 2 involves a reconfigured coach hall opening. The hall is a covered area with 41 parking spaces for limousines, tour buses and cross-boundary and resident coaches.

Ticketing counters and boarding points for cross-boundary coaches and limousines, currently at Terminal 1 and Car Park 4, respectively, and tour bus boarding spaces in Car Park 1 will all be under the same roof at the new site.

More : https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/tran...eed-know?module=top_story&pgtype=section

[hkskyline]

9V-SCB Boeing B787-10 HKG 26-09-25 by Mark Piacentini, on Flickr

[hkskyline]

Qatar Airways sells entire Cathay Pacific stake for $897 million
Excerpt

HONG KONG, Nov 5 (Reuters) - State-owned Qatar Airways has decided to sell its entire stake in Cathay Pacific Airways for about $897 million (HK$6.97 billion), marking its complete exit from Hong Kong's flagship airline after eight years.

Cathay said late on Wednesday that the Doha-based carrier had approached it about selling its entire 9.7% stake, and it would repurchase the shareholding through a buyback at HK$10.8374 per share, roughly a 4% discount to its last closing share price.

The Gulf carrier had bought the stake in November 2017, making it the third-largest shareholder in Cathay after Swire Pacific and Air China.

More : https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacif...s-qatar-airways-8973-million-2025-11-05/

[hkskyline]

Think tank calls for HK-Shenzhen airport rail link
RTHK Excerpt
Nov 20, 2025

A think tank on Thursday proposed building an inter-airport railway between Hong Kong and Shenzhen to better integrate the SAR into the mainland’s high-speed rail network.

According to the Our Hong Kong Foundation (OHKF), the link would shorten the journey between the two airports to 40 minutes, down from the current fastest travel time of 70 minutes possible through a combination of ferry and land transport.

It is estimated that the proposed railway would generate an economic benefit of HK$87 billion and boost annual airport passenger throughput to 118 million by 2040, compared to 102 million if no action is taken.

More : https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1832553-20251120.htm

[hkskyline]

Cathay Pacific A350 tail strikes runway during HK go-around
The Standard Excerpt
Dec 1, 2025

A Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1000 sustained tail damage during a go-around at Hong Kong International Airport last Wednesday, with the aircraft remaining out of service for inspection. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Flight CX764 from Ho Chi Minh City executed a go-around during its initial approach to runway 07C, with the aircraft's tail striking the runway surface during the maneuver. The A350 subsequently climbed to 6,000 feet before safely landing on its second attempt.

Photographs showed visible skin damage to the aircraft's tail section. The plane has been withdrawn from service for comprehensive inspection and repairs, remaining parked at Chek Lap Kok three days after the incident.

More : https://www.thestandard.com.hk/hong-kong...-tail-strikes-runway-during-HK-go-around

[hkskyline]

CX A359 B-LRJ by Kwok Ho Eddie Wong, on Flickr

[hkskyline]

B-LRJ by GKey., on Flickr

[hkskyline]

Two HK low-cost carriers among 15 moving to T2
RTHK Excerpt
Feb 20, 2026

The Airport Authority board said on Friday the first batch of airlines to operate from the expanded Terminal 2 would include budget carriers such as HK Express and Hong Kong Airlines and those operating short-haul routes.

The terminal will officially open on May 27.

Board member and legislator Rock Chen told RTHK that the new T2 building would mainly serve young travellers able to check in on their own as it would have fewer traditional counters than T1.

"T1 and T2 are positioned differently. The 15 airlines in T2 will probably be operating mainly short-haul routes and be relatively new carriers, including budget ones," he said.

More : https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1844405-20260220.htm

[hkskyline]

T2 unveils new state of the art bag drop counters
RTHK Excerpt
May 22, 2026

Hong Kong International Airport’s Terminal 2 is introducing new, uniquely designed, self-drop bag counters, the Airport Authority said on Friday.

The new facility begins operations on May 27.

Steven Yiu, the Airport Authority’s Executive Director of Airport Operations, said all 68 self-drop bag counters have a "one-touch" design, allowing passengers to complete the entire process with a single touch combined with facial recognition.

More : T2 unveils new state of the art bag drop counters - RTHK

Ming Pao