Cathay Pacific is set to more than double its flights into China, prompted by the lifting of travel restrictions for inbound travellers.
The removal of China’s Covid quarantine rules for inbound travellers goes into effect today [January 8, 2023], though visitors will still have to provide proof of a negative PCR test 48 hours before departure for the country.
Cathay Pacific is ramping up services as a result, with plans to operate 61 return flights per week between Hong Kong and 13 cities in mainland China from January 14. The airline is currently offering 27 weekly flights to the mainland, and 50 weekly flights from China to Hong Kong.
As of today, the airline will increase its flights between Hong Kong and Beijing to 10 pairs per week, as well as 21 per week between Hong Kong and Shanghai (Pudong). The airline is also resuming flights to Guangzhou with five return flights per week.
From January 14, the airline will offer four pairs of flights per week between Hong Kong and Xiamen, and six pairs per week between Hong Kong and Chengdu.
Additionally, Cathay aims to operate over 100 return flights per week by March 2023.
Anand Yedery, regional head of marketing and sales, South Asia, Middle East and Africa (SAMEA), said:
“The new year has welcomed us with positive developments. We have always had strong connections into the Chinese Mainland and are delighted to more than double our frequency.
“With the Chinese Mainland lifting its quarantine and transit requirements, we anticipate the demand to travel further grow particularly with the upcoming Chinese New Year. The increase in operations will provide travellers, particularly from the business and trade segment with more options and accessibility to travel.”
As a group, it intends to operate around 70 per cent of pre-pandemic passenger flight capacity by the end of the year, with an aim to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024.
See our recent Tried and Tested review of a flight from Madrid to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific:
