Hong Kong’s HK Express fleet to reach 40 planes as airline lines up cut-price fares

CEO Jeanette Mao says Cathay’s budget arm to launch fly pass from HK$88 on Tuesday to celebrate company’s 11th anniversary

Reading Time:3 minutes

HK Express is the budget arm of Cathay Pacific Airways. Photo: May Tse

Published: 5:30pm, 21 Oct 2024Updated: 8:10pm, 21 Oct 2024

Cathay Pacific Airways’ budget carrier, HK Express, will increase its fleet to 40 planes by next month to expand its capacity and destination coverage, while the airline is set to launch its latest promotion with a round of cut-price round-trip tickets on Tuesday.

Airline CEO Jeanette Mao Jie-qiong said on Monday that the HK Express fleet earlier this year stood at 35 planes, with plans to bring the tally to 40.

Alongside the fleet expansion, she announced the carrier would launch a fly pass from HK$88 (US$11) on Tuesday at 11am to celebrate the company’s 11th anniversary this year.

The time-limited offer allows customers to choose two round-trip tickets covering 30 Asian destinations, such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and mainland China, for flights operating from November to the same month next year.

The cut-price fares mark the latest round of promotions from the budget carrier amid stiff competition with Greater Bay Airlines and Singapore Airlines.

In one instance amid the airfare rivalry, HK Express was selling return tickets between Hong Kong and Tokyo for HK$10, undercutting Greater Bay Airlines’ HK$20 fares for the same journey.