Cathay Pacific’s subsidiary HK Express is to launch flights between Hong Kong and Singapore from February 1.
The low-cost carrier will offer a weekly Tuesday service operated by an A320 aircraft, with flight UO780 departing Hong Kong at 1235 and arriving into Singapore at 1625. The return leg UO781 will leave Singapore at 1800, arriving back into Hong Kong at 2205.
The carrier will join parent company Cathay Pacific on the Hong Kong-Singapore route, as well as Singapore Airlines and its low-cost subsidiary Scoot.
HK Express was acquired by Cathay Pacific in 2019, but saw its services suspended for several months in 2020 as a result of Covid-19.
The airline operates a no frills fare structure, with optional extras including upfront and additional legroom seating, food and drinks available for purchase onboard, and priority baggage, priority check-in and express boarding services.
The planned growth—coupled with HK Express’ entry to the market—means Hong Kong-Singapore capacity is set to rise from about 12,000 two-way seats in early January to almost 42,000 by the week commencing Feb. 7.
Hong Kong and Singapore had planned to establish a quarantine-free Air Travel Bubble between the destinations, but this was abandoned in August 2021 after months of delays.
Commenting on the news Mandy Ng, CEO of HK Express, said: “Singapore truly has it all. That’s why it has long been a popular choice for travelers. Whether our customers are visiting Singapore for business or to visit family, HK Express will provide a safe and seamless experience every step of the journey. We anticipate a steady stream of demand for travel on this route once travel restrictions ease.”
The launch of Singapore service will expand HK Express’ network to 15 destinations from Hong Kong.
OAG data shows that 13 more destinations that have been suspended by the LCC during the pandemic will also resume in March. They include Cam Ranh (CXR) in Vietnam, Jeju (CJU) in South Korea, and Kagoshima (KOJ) in Japan.
