Hong Kong Express has completed its transition into a low-cost carrier, and will commence daily operations from October 27 to Chiang Mai, Sabah, Kunming, Phuket, Taichung, Tokyo Haneda and Osaka Kansai.
The carrier will have five A320s when operations begin next month, but that number is expected to grow to 11 by the end of next year, and 30 by 2018, said President of HK Express Zhang Qiang.
The A320s will have 174 economy class seats. In response to the outcome of the airline’s social media campaign, HK Express will be naming each of its aircraft after dim sum dishes – a culinary favourite in Hong Kong.
While HK Express will be the first locally managed low-cost carrier in Hong Kong, it could face competition from Jetstar Hong Kong, who despite the formal objection filed by Cathay Pacific a week ago (see here), is still expecting to get its license to operate in Hong Kong.
“There’s lots of competitors already in the market,” said Andrew Cowen, deputy chief executive officer of HK Express. “Competition is not an issue for us. We welcome competitions and though there are issues about slots and airport constraints, we have no issue with that.”
Hong Kong Express flight schedule
Hong Kong – Phuket (twice daily)
Flight No. |
Route |
Departure |
Arrival |
UO757 |
HK – Phuket |
0135 |
0415 |
UO763 |
HK – Phuket |
2335 |
0315 |
UO764 |
Phuket – HK |
0315 |
0725 |
UO758 |
Phuket – HK |
0515 |
0925 |
Hong Kong – Sabah (daily)
Flight No. |
Route |
Departure |
Arrival |
UO783 |
HK – Sabah |
1205 |
1510 |
UO784 |
Sabah – Hk |
1545 |
1805 |
Hong Kong – Taichung (twice daily)
Flight No. |
Route |
Departure |
Arrival |
UO182 |
HK – Taichung |
1130 |
1305 |
UO192 |
HK – Taichung |
1855 |
2030 |
UO183 |
Taichung – HK |
1355 |
1535 |
UO193 |
Taichung – HK |
2120 |
2300 |
Hong Kong – Kunming (daily)
Flight No. |
Route |
Departure |
Arrival |
UO273 |
HK – Kunming |
1205 |
1450 |
UO274 |
Kunming – HK |
1545 |
1805 |
Hong Kong – Chiang Mai
Flight No. |
Route |
Departure |
Arrival |
Details |
UO753 |
HK – Chiang Mai |
1715 |
1900 |
Mon, Fri, Sat & Sun |
HK – Chiang Mai |
1650 |
1850 |
Thu* |
|
HK – Chiang Mai |
1800 |
2000 |
Tue & Wed* |
|
UO754 |
Chiang Mai – HK |
2005 |
2345 |
Mon, Fri, Sat & Sun |
Chiang Mai – HK |
1930 |
2320 |
Thu* |
|
Chiang Mai – HK |
2035 |
0125 |
Tue & Wed* |
*Subject to government approval
Hong Kong – Tokyo Haneda (daily)
Flight No. |
Route |
Departure |
Arrival |
UO622 * To commence on Nov 7 |
HK – Tokyo |
1905 |
0130 |
UO623 *To commence on Nov 8 |
Tokyo – HK |
0130 |
0545 |
Hong Kong – Osaka Kansai (daily)
Flight No. |
Route |
Departure |
Arrival |
UO686 * To commence on Nov 21 |
HK – Osaka |
0930 |
1355 |
UO687 * To commence on Nov 21 |
Osaka – HK |
1450 |
1815 |
For more information, visit www.hkexpress.com
Clement Huang