The addition would mean competition for Qantas and Cathay Pacific on the Melbourne-Hong Kong route.
Hong Kong Airlines have announced plans to launch flights to Melbourne as part of its ongoing growth across Australian skies.
The news follows the latest development of its network expansion, with the introduction of a new direct service to Sydney, Australia, set to commence on 20 June, 2025.
In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning 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.
“We will continue to roll out new destinations,” Mr Sun tells the Post.
“For Melbourne we’ve secured air traffic rights already and will confirm its service at a later time.”
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Late last year, the federal and state governments commenced work on the next key part of the Melbourne Airport Rail Link, that will also improve transport services in Melbourne’s rapidly growing west.
Major upgrades have been underway to connect Sunshine to the Melbourne Airport Rail Link and beyond, with the long-awaited rebuild of Sunshine Station commenced in September, 2024.
Both governments contributed $5 billion each to the Melbourne Airport Rail Link and the rebuild includes a $63.5 million investment to increase capacity, enabling future upgrades in the western suburbs.
Hong Kong Airlines – Sydney Route
This will make Hong Kong Airlines the second Hong Kong-based airline to operate this popular route. The new service will be operated with daily scheduled flights and is Hong Kong Airlines’ second Australian destination in this year, following the resumption of seasonal flights to the Gold Coast on 17 January.
Hong Kong Airlines Chairman Mr Yan Bo said the new route was an important milestone for the airline.
“In the past, we only operated flights to the Gold Coast and Cairns in Australia, offering passengers access to popular tourist hotspots in Queensland. Now, we are honoured to extend our reach to Sydney, the country’s most iconic city. This new route will enable us to serve a broader range of international travellers.”
The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, said: “We’re so pleased to see Sydney Airport leveraging Australia’s new bilateral air agreements – with Turkiye since November and now with Hong Kong.
“The Australian Government is working to expand our international aviation network, because more flights means more competition, more choice, and a better experience for Australian travellers.”
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