Hong Kong Airlines has arrived in Sydney, Australia, launching a direct route to the largest Australian city. The airline will become the 52nd airline partner at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, the best-connected airport in Australia. This service is built upon expanding bilateral traffic rights between Australia and Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Airlines, a full-service airline based at 
Hong Kong International Airport, is part of the HNA Group and operates a range of short- and long-haul routes across Asia and the Pacific. According to ch-aviation, the airline has a fleet of all Airbus aircraft, consisting of 17 Airbus A320-200, three A321-200, and 11 A330-300. The A330s deployed on the Sydney route are configured in a two-class layout, with between 24 to 30 business class, and 255-279 economy class seats.
Touchdown In Sydney
Hong Kong Airlines becomes the third airline operating the city pair, following Cathay Pacific and Qantas. With HX joining the pack, this will provide extra travel options for passengers between Hong Kong and Australia, and will complement the seasonal flights the carrier already maintains to the Gold Coast.
The new HX service to Sydney will operate daily, departing from Hong Kong as HX017 at 22:25, arriving the following morning in Sydney at 09:50. The aircraft will remain on the ground just short of two hours, before returning as HX018, leaving at 11:30, with an scheduled arrival time back in Hong Kong at 19:10. Hong Kong Airlines President Mr Jeff Sun, shared the below statement at the inagraul route launch:
“As a full-service local carrier, the launch of our Sydney service marks a significant step in our transformation to an international airline. Sydney is not only a popular destination for leisure and business travel but also one of Australia’s most vital economic hubs. The expansion of the bilateral traffic rights agreement allows us to offer more choice to travellers in both cities, strengthening the connection between them.”
Hong Kong Airlines Resumes Services to The Gold Coast After A Six-Year Hiatus
In addition to Sydney, Hong Kong Airlines already serves the sun-soaked Gold Coast on a seasonal basis, with the airline running four times weekly services between January 17 and February 15. This is a popular service for Asian passengers, celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year period.
The resumption of services to the Gold Coast marked the first Australian connection post-COVID-19, and the route was supported heavily by the State Governments’ Attractive Aviation Investment Fund. This marks the first direct Chinese service from the Gold Coast since 2018.
Melbourne, Australia, is also firmly on the carriers radar, with the airline recently securing traffic rights to serve a direct link between Hong Kong and the Victorian capital. While the schedule details are yet to be announced, the airline will compete head to head with Cathay Pacific and Qantas. Melbourne would mark the third Australian destination after the Gold Coast, and Sydney.
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This would mark the third international carrier on the route between HKG and MEL, and the first new entrant since Virgin Australia exited the route.
To celebrate the launch, Hong Kong Airlines is welcoming passengers who travel to/from Sydney and transit onto the airline’s Vancouver, Bali, Tokyo Narita, Osaka, Haikou, Fukuoka, or Hangzhou services to enter the airline’s ‘Club Autus’ Lounge at HKG. This promo will run for all eligible itineraries between June 20 and October 31, 2025, and is available for economy and business class passengers.
The Club Autus Lounge is a Hong Kong Airlines VIP lounge, located on the T1 Midfield Concourse at HKG. The airport was relaunched in October 2023 and offers a boutique contemporary atmosphere above the main airport concourse. Guests can enjoy comfortable seating areas with complimentary meals and beverages. The lounge is open daily from 06:30 to 02:30.
The launch of the Sydney service marks an expansion strategy for the carrier, with several new and resumed routes including the Gold Coast, Vancouver, and Hulunbuir. The airline has also increased capacity on several seasonal routes, reflecting customer demand. This has seen an increase in services to the Maldives, Da Nang, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Nanjing.
