Hong Kong Airlines to launch five-week direct flight from Gold Coast to Hong Kong
A popular international airline is returning to Gold Coast skies with direct flights to a major Asian hub. Here’s when the flights will run and how much they’ll cost.
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A popular international airline is returning to Gold Coast skies as they reconnect the city with one of the busiest hubs in Asia.
After six years, Hong Kong Airlines have reinstated their direct route from the popular city to the Gold Coast as a part of a five-week celebration for the Chinese Lunar New Year.
The connection will run from Saturday January 18 to February 15.
A Gold Coast Airport spokesman said the return of the service was an “exciting step forward” for the city and the health of its international airport.
“The seasonal service will elevate the Gold Coast as a destination of choice in our key markets of Hong Kong and mainland China, with the goal of evolving into a long-term service in the future,” they said.
The airport spokesman said the service was expected to bring around 5,000 people to the Gold Coast.
“China has long been a critical visitor market for the Gold Coast and Queensland more broadly, so reconnecting with Hong Kong is an important milestone in our international recovery.”
Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn said they were “thrilled” to see the return of the service after six years.
He said more than 56,000 people had flown into the Gold Coast from China last year, as the market continues to recover from Covid-19.
“Hong Kong is a recognised southeast Asian aviation hub connecting passengers from right across Asia to Australia, so we expect the return of this seasonal service will boost visitor numbers from cities like Hong Kong, China and the region.”
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the connection was more reason for the city to be adding new attractions.
“While our domestic tourism is booming again, the key to the return of international visitors is accessibility to flights,” he said.
“Our nature-based tourism strategy supports this.”
A Hong Kong Tourism Board spokesman said they were thrilled to see the airline returning to Australia.
“We are delighted that they have selected the Gold Coast as the first cab off the rank,” they said.
“Hong Kong’s proximity to Asia and the rest of the world makes it the perfect pre or post cruise destination, an ideal stopover on the way to Europe or one of many stops on an Asian multi-destination itinerary.”
The spokesman said Hong Kong had taken a hit after the Covid-19 pandemic but was bouncing back, reaching approximately 70 per cent of its 2018 visitation numbers.
“Hong Kong Airlines re-entering the market with seasonal flights to the Gold Coast to cover the busy Chinese New Year period is a great indication of the demand for capacity increasing to Hong Kong,” he said.
The flights will run four times a week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, for the five-week period.
Prices for return fares begin from $1,281 for weekdays and $1,311 for weekends.
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