HK Express

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Not to be confused with Hong Kong Airlines or Sky Shuttle Helicopters (formerly Heli-Express).

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For the television drama series produced by SBS of Korea, see Hong Kong Express (TV series).
HK Express
275px
IATA ICAO Callsign
UO HKE HONGKONG SHUTTLE
Founded 2004
Hubs Hong Kong International Airport
Fleet size 12
Destinations 23
Company slogan Hong Kong's Low-Fare Airline
Headquarters Tung Chung, Hong Kong
Key people

Andrew Cowen (Deputy CEO)
Website www.hkexpress.com

HK Express (Chinese: 香港快運航空) is a Hong Kong-based low-cost airline which provides scheduled air service to nine destinations in Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. The airline's main hub at Hong Kong International Airport uses a fleet that consists exclusively of Airbus A320s.

History

Hong Kong Express Airways Limited was incorporated on 10 March 2004, with the former Chinese name, 港聯航空有限公司, added on 21 April 2004.[1] The airline was owned by Macau casino entrepreneur Stanley Ho.[2] In July 2004, Hong Kong's helicopter operator Heli Hong Kong officially announced plans to commence fixed-wing operation via Hong Kong Express, to become Hong Kong's fourth passenger airline. It was planning to introduce regional jet services to secondary cities in mainland China and was in negotiations with Bombardier and Embraer for the lease of several 50- or 70-seat regional jets.[3] In April 2005, the airline was granted permission to transport passengers, cargo and mail from Hong Kong to selected destinations in China and permitted to apply for traffic rights to serve 15 Chinese cities.[4] The next month, it received approval to operate scheduled air services to five cities in China, including Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Ningbo.[5] The airline had its Air Operator's Certificate varied in July 2005 for the operation of Embraer 170 aircraft.[6] The same month, it took delivery of its first of four 76-seat twin-jet Embraer 170, leased from General Electric Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS), and became the Asian launch operator of this regional jet. Two more aircraft were delivered in 2005, with the remaining delivered in May 2006.[7][8][9]

The airline's initial use of its first Embraer 170 was on charter services to Taichung, Republic of China (Taiwan), on 3 September 2005. The first scheduled passenger services began to Guangzhou on 8 September 2005, with services to Hangzhou and Ningbo following in October 2005 and December 2005, respectively.[6][10] On 19 November 2005, Hong Kong Air Transport Licensing Authority (ATLA) granted the airline additional licences to operate scheduled services to 16 destinations in mainland China, as well as Koh Samui, Okinawa, Siem Reap and Taichung.[11] Scheduled passenger services to Chiang Mai and Chongqing were inaugurated on 22 June 2006 and 31 July 2006, respectively.

On 3 August 2006, HNA Group, the parent company of Hainan Airlines, announced a finalised agreement to acquire a 45 percent stake in Hong Kong Express; this followed an earlier purchase of a 45 percent holdings in CR Airways in June. Under the terms of the agreement, the airline would remain a Hong Kong registered airline and there would be no changes to the current operations. Analysts said that the HNA Group had the weakest international network amongst all the mainland airlines. By purchasing both Hong Kong Express and CR Airways, it would enable Hainan Airlines to expand internationally via its junior partners from Hong Kong.[12][13]

On 23 January 2008, the airline was the third Hong Kong carrier permitted, by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department, to operate flights to and from Beijing and Shanghai. To facilitate the expansion, it announced a further six Boeing 737-800 would be added to its fleet before the end of the year.[14]

Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) Transformation

On 26 June 2013, Hong Kong Express announced its intention to transform into a low-cost carrier (LCC), and renamed to "HK Express", under the direction of the deputy CEO Andrew Cowen.[15] Hong Kong Express' first flights as a LCC commenced October 27, 2013, to five destinations in Asia. The airline has since added routes to Tokyo, Penang, Osaka, Fukuoka, Seoul and Busan. There are plans for the airline's fleet to increase by five Airbus A320 in 2014, taking the total number of aircraft to 11 within the year and with a longer term aim of having over 30 Airbus A320 by 2018.[16]

Destinations

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Main article: HK Express destinations

Fleet

File:HK Express A320-200.jpg
Airbus A320-200

Hong Kong Express operates a fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft.[17]

All aircraft have single-class economy seating for either 174 or 180 seats each. The average seat pitch is 28 inches in a 3 + 3 configuration.[18][19]

Hong Kong Express Fleet[20]
Model In Fleet Passengers Aircraft registration Aircraft Name
Airbus A320-200 5 174 B-LPB
B-LPF
B-LPG
B-LPH
B-LPE
8 180 B-LCA
B-LCB
B-LCC
B-LCD
B-LCE
B-LCF
B-LCG
B-LCJ		 「燒賣」/ "Siu maai"
「蝦餃」/ "Haa gaau"
「叉燒包」/ "Cha siu baau"
「春卷」/ "Ceon gyun"
「腸粉」/ "Coeng fan"
「手羽先」/ "Tebasaki"
Total 13

Historical

Hong Kong Express Historic Fleet:

In-flight

Food and drinks

Meals, drinks and alcoholic beverages are available for passengers to purchase on board.[22]

In-flight products

In-flight products are branded items available for onboard purchase and now includes an Airbus A320 aircraft model, a blanket and a comfort kit.

See also

References

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  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ "[1]." Hong Kong Express. Accessed April 2014.
  17. ↑ [2] retrieved 27 September 2013
  18. ↑ [3] retrieved 27 September 2013
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ "[4]." Hong Kong Express. Accessed 27 September 2013.

External links

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