Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Image : Airbus
On 29 March 2023, HK Express, a subsidiary of Cathay Pacific Airways, announced the arrival of its first Airbus A321neo passenger aircraft. It launches its first commercial flight to Suvarnabhumi on 2 April 2023 until 8 April 2023. After 8 April, it will serve different destinations with the existing fleet.
The Airbus A321neo of HK Express is the longest fuselage model in the Airbus A320 fleet. In the next two years, a total of 16 passenger planes of the same model will be received. The appearance of the new aircraft is painted with a new design, and there are new logos of HK Express on the wings and tail.
Compared with the old model A321, tthe A321neo has 6 more seats. It can carry 236 passengers, and the average fuel consumption per seat will be reduced by 20%. A carbon offset plan for passengers will be launched within this year.
With the strong tourism recovery trend in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and other Asian markets, the number of HK Express flights has now returned to pre-pandemic levels. HK Express expects to operate more than 400 flights per week in a few weeks, and will exceed the pre-epidemic level by summer to reach more than 500 flights per week.
Ng Kit Man, Chief Executive Officer of HK Express, said: "The demand for international travel remains strong. We are very pleased to introduce the advanced A321neo passenger aircraft to the fleet at this critical moment, writing another milestone for the company's development history. We will continue to expand Asian routes. At the same time, we will continue to further strengthen the company's modernized operating model, so as to create a better and more sustainable future. With Hong Kong's full return to the international stage, this fleet expansion also fully reflects our confidence in the Asian market."
HK Express is an all-Airbus operator, with its current fleet comprising 27 A320 Family aircraft, including 11A321ceo, 10 A320neo, five A320ceo and its first A321neo.
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