As one of Australia’s most iconic tourist destinations, Queensland’s Gold Coast has long been a magnet for travelers from Asia seeking out some winter sunshine. Last week, Hong Kong Airlines resumed its services to the Gold Coast in time for the Lunar New Year holidays, the first local carrier to reinstate this highly popular route.

Launched with color and excitement

Passengers on the inaugural Hong Kong Airlines services were treated to colorful celebrations twice – once when boarding in Hong Kong and again on arrival in Australia at the Gold Coast Airport (OOL). The resumed service will operate four times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from Hong Kong, with return flights from the Gold Coast the following day.

Hong Kong Airlines President and Captain, Mr Sun, joined the cockpit crew to pilot the flight from Hong Kong to the Gold Coast. At the welcoming ceremony, Captain Sun said:

“As one of Hong Kong’s leading full-service airlines, Hong Kong Airlines is committed to providing high-quality, comprehensive services, including flexible baggage allowance options, complimentary inflight meals, and comfortable seats, to ensure that every passenger can enjoy a pleasant journey.”

Hong Kong Airlines Airbus A330 taking off from BKK shutterstock_1516321625

Photo: Omid Behzadpour | Shutterstock

A summer seasonal service for the Chinese New Year

This is a summer seasonal service that will operate four times weekly from January 17 to February 15, 2025, covering the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays. On Friday, January 17, 2025, Hong Kong Airlines flight HX15 departed Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) at 22:22, headed for the Gold Coast.

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The flight was operated by a 2015 Airbus A330-300, registration B-LHG and MSN 1663. After an 8:17-hour flight from Hong Kong it arrived at Gold Coast Airport at 08:39 the following day.

Hong Kong Airlines HKG Gold Coast Inaugural

On Saturday, the return flight HX16 left the Gold Coast at 11:38 and arrived in Hong Kong at 18:35. This particular Airbus A330 has recently been flying regular services from Hong Kong International to Shanghai (PVG), Osaka (KIX), Tokyo (NRT), Nanjing (NKG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International (SHA).

Hong Kong Airlines Airbus A330 taxiing.

Photo: e X p o s e / Shutterstock

The A330 joined Hong Kong Airlines in June 2023, after previously flying with Hainan Airlines and Lucky Air, and is configured in a two-class layout of 292 passengers, including 32 in business and 260 in economy. According to fleet data from ch-aviation, Hong Kong Airlines has a fleet of 34 aircraft, including:

  • 16 Airbus A320-200s
  • three Airbus A321-200s
  • four Airbus A330-200s
  • 11 Airbus A330-300s

Hong Kong Airlines returns to long-haul

While resuming flights between Hong Kong and the Gold Coast after a six year gap is cause for celebration in its own right, Friday’s flight also marked the airline’s return to long-haul operations. Hong Kong Airlines said it is progressively expanding its fleet to support a phased expansion of its network, including potential new routes in Australia and a return to the North American market.

A Hong Kong Airlines Airbus A330-200 at Hong Kong International Airport.

Photo: Wangkun Jia | Shutterstock 

Prior to cutbacks in 2019, the airline had operated long-haul services from Hong Kong to Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, the Gold Coast, Cairns and Auckland. The latest announcement said that beyond Vancouver, which resumes in January, Hong Kong Airlines is actively exploring the possibility of expanding services to Los Angeles, Seattle and Toronto, “to offer passengers a wider range of international travel options.”

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Hong Kong Airlines To Resume Vancouver Route As Part Of International Expansion

Hong Kong Airlines will launch flights to Vancouver on January 15, with more flights to North America (including the US) on the horizon.

Closer to home the full-service carrier celebrated its inaugural flight between Hong Kong and Sendai, Japan in December 2024. This route operates three times weekly and is operated with an Airbus A320 that takes just over four hours to reach the airline’s ninth scheduled destination in Japan.

One in every three Hong Kong residents travels to Japan annually and there is a growing trend for increasing numbers of them to explore destinations outside of the major cities, such as Tokyo and Osaka. Booking for Christmas and Lunar New Year are so strong that services were increased to Sapporo, Tokyo and Osaka.

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