Hong Kong Airlines takes off to Auckland

By Kate Webster

Hong Kong Airlines made its inaugural first daily direct service to Auckland, New Zealand yesterday, further bolstering its presence in the Australian and New Zealand market.

The Airbus A332 aircraft, with 283 seats, including 24 business class seats, operating the route was celebrated in both Hong Kong International Airport and Auckland Airport.

Guests on board the inaugural flight from Hong Kong, were presented with a commemorative certificate and boarding pass envelope to mark the occasion and show gratitude for their support of the new route.

Arriving at Auckland Airport today, all passengers, flight crew and senior management of Hong Kong Airlines received a warm welcome following flight HX021. Auckland Airport organised a traditional water cannon salute, followed by a ribbon and cake cutting ceremony to commemorate the inaugural flight.

The ceremony was officiated by: Mr. Li Dianchun, Chief Commercial Officer of Hong Kong Airlines; Mr. Jason Delamore, General Manager, Marketing & Technology, Auckland Airport; Mr. Andrew Clark, Regional Director, Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific, Hong Kong Tourism Board; Madam Xu Erwen, Chinese Consul General; and Mr. Dick Quax, Auckland Council Representative.

“We are delighted with the successful launch of this much-anticipated new route in Auckland, New Zealand. So far, we have received an overwhelming response from travellers since tickets became available for purchase,” Li Dianchun said in his welcoming speech.

As a result, we have already increased our service to 10 times weekly from 11^th December 2016 to 13^th February 2017. We expect New Zealand will become a popular destination with our travellers who would like to enjoy the stunning beauty of this country. We also anticipate strong demand out of the New Zealand market to Hong Kong and connecting on our network in Asia. We hope that our new route will further strengthen the cultural, tourism and business ties between these two countries,” Li Dianchun added.

Hong Kong Airlines has enjoyed the success of the service to Australia earlier this year, and hopes New Zealand will take off just as well.

According to the airline, there has been a steady increase year on year in the number of Hong Kong and China travellers visiting New Zealand.

“Leveraging on our connectivity in Asia via the international hub Hong Kong, we believe this Hong Kong Airlines new service to Auckland will be welcomed by passengers from Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chengdu, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Okinawa, Tokyo, Bangkok and Taipei, offering them more travel options,” Li Dianchun concluded.

The flight schedule for the Auckland, New Zealand route is as follows (*All Times Local):

Flight No.	Route	Departure/Arrival Time*	Frequency
HX021	Hong Kong to Auckland	15:20/ 07:30 +1	Daily
HX022	Auckland to Hong Kong	09:30 / 15:55	Daily
HX027	Hong Kong to Auckland	01:55/ 18:55	Wed/ Fri/ Sun
HX028	Auckland to Hong Kong	01:00/ 08:05	Wed/ Fri/ Sun

^#Flight number and schedule may change without prior notice.

Hong Kong Airlines has announce Daniel Yuen as the airline’s first General Manager for New Zealand.

Yuen leads the team in New Zealand, where the arrival of the airline’s inaugural flight into Auckland Airport took place today. Yuen takes his position in New Zealand, following his most recent role within the airline’s Sales & Marketing, based in Hong Kong. Prior to joining Hong Kong Airlines, Yuen has also worked in operational management positions in the aviation industry.

For more details, please visit www.hkairlines.com, or contact us via Hong Kong Airlines New Zealand Contact Centre on 09 307 9445 or via email on hongkongairlines@worldaviation.co.nz

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