Europe more accessible than ever
Cathay Pacific is significantly strengthening its presence in Europe with two major new destinations. Munich join the network from June 16, 2025 with four weekly flights, becoming the second German destination after Frankfurt. Bruxelles also makes a comeback in the network from August 3, 2025. These two routes will be served by Airbus A350-900s, offering three classes of travel.
“Hong Kong is a world-class financial, commercial and aeronautical center,” emphasizes Lavinia Lau, Commercial Director of Cathay Pacific. For the summer of 2025, the company will bring its offer to Europe to 93 weekly return flights, compared to 78 currentlyserving 11 European destinations.
Heading for North America
Expansion also continues towards North America with the opening of a link to dallas from 24 avril 2025. This new route, operated four times a week by Airbus A350-1000, marks an important step in Cathay Pacific’s development strategy on the American market.
Vancouver also finds a direct connection thanks to Hong Kong Airlines which resumes its flights from January 18, 2025 with two weekly rotations.
New destinations in Asia-Pacific
The development of the regional network is not left out:
- Japan : HK Express launches several new routes in Japan: Sendai (January 17, 2025) with four weekly flights, Hiroshima (since November 2024) or Shizuoka (since December 17, 2024) making 2024-2025 a record year for the development of the Hong Kong low-cost airline’s Japanese network. Greater Bay Airlines inaugurates Yonago (since October 27, 2024, 3 flights/week).
- Australia : Australia sees the return of flights to Cairns (Cathay Pacific) for the high season from December 17, 2024 to March 29, 2025, and the opening of a connection to Gold Coast (Hong Kong Airlines) from January 17, 2025
- Mainland China : Greater Bay Airlines launches three new Boeing 737-800 destinations: Zhoushan (since November 2024, 3 flights/week), Tunxi (since December 2024, 3 flights/week) and Yichang (since December 2024, 3 flights/week)
- Taiwan : Hualien, in direct connection with HK Express, since December 12, 2024
- Vietnam : Phu Qoc, in direct connection with HK Express, since December 6, 2024
- Malaysia : Penang, in direct connection with HK Express, since the end of November 2024.
- Bhutan : Bhutan becomes accessible thanks to Bhutan Airlines which inaugurates a series of direct flights from January 29, 2025 between Paro a Hong Kong.
- Thailand : Hong Kong Airlines is also significantly strengthening its presence in Thailand. Since October 27, 2024, it has operated a daily flight to Chiang Maiits third Thai destination after Bangkok (five daily flights) and Phuket (one daily flight).
A modernized airport for new ambitions
According to statements from the Hong Kong Airport Authority, the three-runway system became operational on November 28, 2024, increasing airport capacity by approximately 30%. “With this three-runway system, we are creating significant opportunities for airlines to expand their networks,” says Vivian Cheung, Acting CEO of the Airport Authority.
The C919: Chinese ambition takes flight in Hong Kong
On January 1, 2025, as reported by the Xinhua agency, the C919, the first Chinese airlinerinaugurated its first international connection between Shanghai and Hong Kong. China Eastern Airlines, which now operates 10 aircraft of this type, operates a daily flight under the numbers MU721 and MU722.
-According to Reuters (January 3, 2025), this is only a first step: COMAC, the manufacturer of the device, is targeting Southeast Asia from 2026, making Hong Kong a real springboard for international expansion of Chinese civil aviation.
This new daily connection enriches the travel options between China’s two most important financial centers, offering a made-in-China alternative to the traditional Airbus and Boeing on this busy route.
Figures which demonstrate a strong recovery
According to Cirium data cited by Bloomberg on December 26, 2024, Hong Kong is expected to experience a significant increase in its international traffic in 2025: 162,431 international flights planned (compared to 137,480 in 2024).
The road Hong Kong-Taipei remains the busiest international route in the world with 624,604 seats available
According to IATA forecasts cited by Bloomberg, 2025 is expected to see a record 5.2 billion passengers worldwide, with particularly strong growth in Asia-Pacific. This growth positions Hong Kong as a central player in the recovery of global air transport, benefiting from both its role as a gateway to mainland China and a major international hub.
