Hong Kong Airlines is planning to launch new services to Los Angeles later this year, the airline’s vice chairman Tang King-shing confirmed at a ceremony marking the airline’s new frequent-flyer reciprocal tie up with Virgin Australia.

Details of the service have yet to be confirmed by the Hong Kong carrier, though Tang did state the airline is targeting a mid- to late-December launch date.

Further details are expected to be announced shortly, though industry website airlineroute.net reports that the carrier has filed to begin operations on December 15 this year. According to the website, HK068 will depart Hong Kong at 1210 and arrive at Los Angeles (LAX) at 0855 local time, while HK069 will depart LAX at 1045 and arrive the following day back in Hong Kong at 1820.

The LAX service will be the airline’s first to the US and will follow the recent launch of its new Vancouver service, which took off late last month.

It could also be the first route confirmed to fly the airline’s new Airbus A350, the first of which it is due to receive next month. Hong Kong Airlines currently expects to take delivery of three of the aircraft before the end of the year, and has a total of 15 on order.

The A350 will also be the first aircraft to feature its new business class seat product – Business Traveller Asia-Pacific was able to sample a demonstration product at the airline’s 10th anniversary event in Hong Kong last year.

Hong Kong Airlines has been cagey when it comes to confirming on which routes the new aircraft will actually operate. According to airlineroute.net, the LAX service will be operated by the new aircraft, though Hong Kong Airlines is not confirming this at this time.

A representative from the airline did, however, tell Business Traveller Asia-Pacific that the aircraft will not be first deployed on the airline’s new Vancouver service, which is currently operated by an A330.

In related news, Hainan Airlines – whose parent company HNA Aviation is also affiliated with Hong Kong Airlines – recently launched two of its own new Los Angeles services back in March.

hongkongairlines.com