Hong Kong International Airport

[hkskyline]

EC-MTU by Ching Yin Yau, on Flickr

[hkskyline]

Cathay Pacific raises US$650 million in first US-dollar bond sale in 27 years to fuel survival amid global air travel slump
South China Morning Post Excerpt
May 10, 2021

Cathay Pacific Airways has raised US$650 million by selling a US-dollar denominated bond for the first time in about three decades as it battles to stabilise its finances amid a slump in international travel, according to a person familiar with the deal.

Hong Kong’s flagship airline plans to use the bond proceeds as working capital and for general corporate purposes, according to a terms sheet seen by the South China Morning Post. The fundraising comes less than a year after the airline received a HK$39 billion (US$5 billion) bailout from Hong Kong’s government. 

Cathay Pacific was one of the first and hardest hit airlines by the coronavirus pandemic, which quickly stymied global air travel after the first Covid-19 cases emerged in mainland China. Without a domestic flight network, the carrier relies on cross-border travel to more than 190 global destinations in more than 60 countries.

More : https://www.scmp.com/business/bankin...27-years-raise

[hkskyline]

N702CA, Boeing 747-400BCF, National Airlines, Hong Kong by Colin Parker, on Flickr

[hkskyline]

Airport Authority Launches Air Ticket Lucky Draw to Promote Vaccination
Press Release Excerpt

(HONG KONG, 26 May 2021, 2000hrs) – To support the Government’s vaccination promotion, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) announced today that 60 000 air tickets will be given away by lucky draw to Hong Kong residents and airport staff who receive COVID-19 vaccination.

Of the 60 000 air tickets to be distributed by lucky draw, 50 000 will be given to Hong Kong residents who have received COVID-19 vaccination before the end of September, while the remaining 10 000 tickets are for staff of Hong Kong International Airport who have been vaccinated before the same deadline.

Meanwhile, the AA will purchase another 1 000 air tickets for giving away via lucky draw to AA staff vaccinated before the end of September.

More : https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/m...e/2021/pr_1547

[hkskyline]

HKIA Cargo Throughput Continues to Grow in May
Press Release Excerpt
June 11, 2021

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) today released the traffic figures for Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) for May 2021. During the month, HKIA handled 59,000 passengers, recording a year-on-year increase of 57.7%, while flight movements dropped 4.3% to 10,875. Cargo throughput was 405,000 tonnes, a 7.3% increase compared to the same month last year.

The growth in cargo volume was mainly attributed to a double-digit growth in imports compared to the same month last year. Cargo to and from Southeast Asia and India experienced the most significant increases during the month.

The year-on-year increase in passenger traffic was mainly attributed to the low base for comparison. Passenger traffic remained significantly below the pre-pandemic level of 2019 due to the on-going COVID-19 situation.

More : https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/m...e/2021/pr_1549

[hkskyline]

Midfield Terminal, Hong Kong by Colin Parker, on Flickr

[hkskyline]

Air Hong Kong | Airbus A300-600F | B-LDF | Hong Kong International by Dennis Lau, on Flickr

[hkskyline]

Why Cathay Pacific has returned to New Zealand with Airbus A350-1000 and Boeing 777 aircraft
18 July 2021
New Zealand Herald Excerpt

Battered Cathay Pacific has returned to New Zealand with freight revenue helping make up for light passenger loads and hope vaccination of its crew and the public will boost its recovery.

The airline paused operations here between February and this month due to stringent isolation requirements for its crew. They needed to quarantine for three weeks in Hong Kong when returning from flights, further choking its network, which is all international flying.

With those requirements eased for vaccinated crew, Cathay has resumed flights to Auckland although just once a week. Pre-pandemic it was flying to this country up to twice a day.

More : Why Cathay Pacific has returned to New Zealand with Airbus A350-1000 and Boeing 777 aircraft - NZ Herald

[hkskyline]

Airbus, A350-941, HS-THC, "Thai Airways", VHHH, Hong Kong by Daryl Chapman Photography, on Flickr

[hkskyline]

Cathay Pacific posts narrower H1 loss as costs fall
Reuters Excerpt
Aug 11, 2021

Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd (0293.HK) on Wednesday posted a HK$7.57 billion ($973 million) first-half loss, narrower than the prior year's HK$9.87 billion, due to cost-cutting measures and strong air cargo demand.

The net loss for the six months ended June 30 was in line with the company's guidance that it would be "somewhat" lower than the prior year. read more

Revenue fell 42.7% to HK$15.85 billion.

More : https://www.reuters.com/business/aer...ll-2021-08-11/

[hkskyline]

Hong Kong’s Greater Bay Airlines chooses China’s National Day for maiden flight
Aug 8, 2021
South China Morning Post Excerpt

Greater Bay Airlines (GBA), bidding to be Hong Kong’s newest carrier, will make its inaugural flight on October 1, the 72nd anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, the Post has learned.

The National Day flight, which will take place amid an ongoing surge in coronavirus outbreaks around the globe, will be a charter to Beijing, according to the company’s director.

While a timeline has now been set, GBA is still awaiting its operating licence and air operating certificate. It expects to get the latter, which covers the commercial and safety requirements necessary to take-off, on September 17, Stanley Hui Hon-chung revealed in an interview.

More : https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...s-national-day

[hkskyline]

Cathay Pacific Airways A321NEO B-HPD still stored at HKG/VHHH by Jaws300, on Flickr

[hkskyline]

IMG_6535 by Kwok Ho Eddie Wong, on Flickr

[hkskyline]

Air Canada | Boeing 787-9 | C-FVLQ | Fly the flag livery | Hong Kong International by Dennis Lau, on Flickr

[hkskyline]

Greater Bay Airlines – A New Airline Coming To Hong Kong
Aug 23, 2021
Simple Flying Excerpt

Hong Kong might strike you as one of the worst possible places to start a new airline. The worldwide travel downturn has ravaged the Chinese territory and its airport. But all going well, newcomer Greater Bay Airlines plans to start flying from Hong Kong on October 1st.

While the nascent airline has its first plane, a Boeing 737-800, Greater Bay Airlines is yet to get the all-important air operators certificate. However, Greater Bay executive Stanley Hui Hon-chung says this is expected in September. Hot on the heels of that is the anticipated October 1st charter flight to Beijing.

While there is no shortage of would-be startup airlines around the world, Greater Bay’s plans are more advanced than most. Having a plane helps. The airline has also hired staff, including 10 pilots.

There is also some serious airline pedigree behind Greater Bay Airlines. Stanley Hui Hon-chung is the former CEO of Hong Kong’s Airport Authority and Dragonair. Also onboard is Algernon Yau Ying-wah. Yau worked at the Cathay Group for 38 years, including doing time as CEO of Cathay Dragon.

More : https://simpleflying.com/greater-bay-airlines-startup/

[hkskyline]

N473MC, Boeing 747-400BCF, Atlas Air, Hong Kong by Colin Parker, on Flickr

[hkskyline]

Cargo Throughput at HKIA Continues to Record Double Digit Growth in July
August 13, 2021
Press Release Excerpt

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) today released the traffic figures for Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) for July 2021. During the month, HKIA handled 111,000 passengers and 11,850 flight movements, representing year-on-year increases of 15.5% and 20.0%, respectively. Cargo throughput saw a 12.4% increase to 419,000 tonnes compared to the same month last year.

Passenger traffic showed a slight improvement by reaching around 3,500 passengers daily in July 2021, due to a significant increase of passengers to and from Mainland China. However, passenger traffic only accounted less than 2% of the pre-pandemic level in 2019.

Cargo throughput at HKIA in July recorded double-digit growth of 12.4%. Transshipments recorded strong growth of 21%. Both imports and exports also experienced double-digit growth. Cargo to and from Southeast Asia experienced the most significant increase during the month.

More : https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/m...e/2021/pr_1557

[F1 Tommy]

I noticed mainland flights on China East have slowed but Cathay Pacific and a few others have increased cargo flights mainly to Hong Kong in the last few weeks. Any idea why?

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by F1 Tommy

I noticed mainland flights on China East have slowed but Cathay Pacific and a few others have increased cargo flights mainly to Hong Kong in the last few weeks. Any idea why?

Hong Kong's borders are still pretty much shut. Foreign visitors are banned from entering and residents returning home are subject to quarantine up to 21 days in designated hotels. The aviation industry is at a standstill.

[F1 Tommy]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

Hong Kong's borders are still pretty much shut. Foreign visitors are banned from entering and residents returning home are subject to quarantine up to 21 days in designated hotels. The aviation industry is at a standstill.

Yes I understand but China East has been sending 2-3 777-300's converted to mainly cargo to ORD daily since May or June 2020 to and from mainland China and then 2 weeks ago it stopped suddenly.