HK Express CEO reveals expansion plans at IATA Summit

HK Express CEO Jeanette Mao unveiled the airline's strategic expansion plans at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting, emphasizing Vietnam and South Korea as emerging tourism hotspots for Hong Kong travelers, replacing Japan.

During the first five months of 2025, HK Express has doubled its capacity to Vietnam, with passenger growth surpassing capacity increases by 130 percent. The airline's routes to South Korea have experienced a 67 percent increase in capacity while maintaining a load factor of over 90 percent.

The introduction of new routes to Nha Trang, Cheongju, Daegu, Changzhou, and Yiwu has established HK Express as the leading carrier for flights to Vietnam and South Korea from Hong Kong.

Expanding beyond its established network in Northeast Asia, HK Express is now aggressively targeting Southeast Asia and Mainland China. These markets boast three times the population of Northeast Asia and hold the title for the world's largest outbound tourism base, respectively. Several new routes were launched in April and May, with additional destinations scheduled for 2025.

The codeshare agreement with Cathay Pacific enables passengers from Mainland China to access over 80 international destinations via Hong Kong, while also facilitating inbound connections to HK Express' regional routes. This partnership enhances Hong Kong's status as a major aviation hub.

The region's competitive landscape has led to a 40 percent year-on-year increase in Hong Kong's short-haul seat capacity, which now surpasses the population of Hong Kong.

With the commencement of Third Runway operations, airport capacity has increased, helping to stabilize fares in the post-pandemic era.

Currently, five A320neo aircraft, representing 50 percent of the fleet, remain grounded due to engine issues, with no definitive timelines for their return to service. As Pratt & Whitney addresses supply chain improvements, HK Express has adopted operational optimizations such as scheduling red-eye flights and reducing turnaround times, anticipating double-digit growth in fleet utilization by 2025.