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| Founded | 28 March 2001 (as CR Airways) |
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| Hubs | Hong Kong International Airport | |||
| Frequent-flyer program | Fortune Wings Club | |||
| Fleet size | 15 (+100 orders) incl. cargo | |||
| Destinations | ||||
| Parent company | Hainan Airlines (45%) | |||
| Headquarters | Hong Kong International Airport Lantau, Hong Kong |
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| Key people | ||||
| Website | www.hongkongairlines.com | |||
Hong Kong Airlines Ltd (Chinese: 香港航空有限公司; Mandarin Pinyin: Xiānggǎng Hángkōng Yǒuxiàngōngsī; Jyutping: hoeng1 gong2 hong4 hung1 jau5 haan6 gung1 si1), formerly CR Airways Limited (Chinese: 中富航空有限公司; Mandarin Pinyin: Zhōngfù Hángkōng Yǒuxiàngōngsī; Jyutping: zung1 fu3 hong4 hung1 jau5 haan6 gung1 si1, IATA: N8), is a Hong Kong-based airline, with its main hub and corporate head office at Hong Kong International Airport. The airline operates scheduled regional passenger and cargo services to 10 destinations within the People's Republic of China and Vietnam, including codeshares with its sister airline, Hong Kong Express Airways.
The airline was founded as CR Airways by Robert Yip on 28 March 2001 and began helicopter passenger charter operations with a Sikorsky S-76C+ helicopter. It was Hong Kong's first helicopter operator to receive an Air Operator's Certificate since the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was established. Mainland Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines and Mr Mung Kin Keung took over the airline in 2006 by acquiring a 45 percent and 55 percent holdings in the airline, respectively. The airline officially changed its name to Hong Kong Airlines Limited on 28 November 2006 and introduced a new logo representing a bauhinia flower, a Hong Kong native flower.
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Robert Yip, the chairman of China Rich Holdings, with business interests in Chinese medicine, internet portal, construction and property development; established CR Airways in Hong Kong on 28 March 2001.[1][2] The airline received its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) from the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD) with a 285 kilometres per hour (177 mph) 12 passenger Sikorsky S-76C+ helicopter in early 2002. It was Hong Kong's third commercial helicopter operator and the first helicopter operator to receive an AOC since Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of People's Republic of China.[3]
On 27 June 2003, CR Airways became Hong Kong's third passenger airline after receiving a revised AOC from the Director of Civil Aviation Albert Lam and operated its first passenger flight on the next day.[4] It started passenger charter operations to Laoag, Philippines on 5 July 2003, with a Bombardier CRJ200 leased from GE Capital Aviation Services.[5][6] In September 2003, the airline applied for traffic rights to operate scheduled passenger services to Laoag and Chinese cities of Jinan, Naning, Meixian and Wenzhou. In addition, Robert Yip sold 40 percent of the airline to his company, China Rich Holdings, for HK$180 million.[7] By March 2004, the airline had added Siem Reap, Cambodia to its charter network.[5]
In April 2005, the Hong Kong Air Transport Licensing Authority (ATLA) granted a five-year licence to transport passengers, cargo and mail to China; the airline was free to apply for traffic rights to 10 cities in China.[8] On 5 July 2005, the airline announced the purchase of two Bombardier CRJ700s from Danish carrier Maersk Air, scheduled to arrive in July and mid-August, respectively.[9] In addition, the airline had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Boeing for the purchase of 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 30 Boeing 737–800s on 20 December 2005 at a listed price of US$3.28 billion. An executive of the airline had told reporters that some of the Boeing aircraft was from Hainan Airlines' order.[10][11]
On 27 June 2006, Hainan Airlines purchased a 45 percent holdings of the airline and the holdings would be transferred to Grand China Air, a new holding company of Hainan Airlines.[12] Two months later, Mr Mung Kin Keung acquired the remaining 55 percent of the airline and became the controlling shareholder on 7 August; and its director on 13 August. On 22 September 2006, CR Airways Limited officially changed its name to Hong Kong Airlines Limited and a launch ceremony took place on 28 November. The airline also introduced a new logo, which represents a bauhinia flower, the symbol of Hong Kong where the airline is anchored. The new logo also represents the close relationship between the airline and Hong Kong and its new era in the civil aviation industry.[2][13] The airline made the biggest aircraft order in its young history on 21 June 2007, by ordering 51 narrow- and wide-body aircraft from European plane maker, Airbus, at an estimated value of US$5.6 billion.[14] The airline's IATA code was changed from N8 to HX on 27 May 2007.[15]
On 24 October 2008, the airline announced plans in preparation for the arrival of the Airbus A330-200 wide-body aircraft, which included personnel and fleet composition. The new aircraft will provide medium haul passenger and cargo services to the Middle East and Australia.[16]
On 8 June 2010, Hong Kong Airlines successfully completed their proving flight from Hong Kong to Beijing and return earning their Air Operating's Certificate for the Airbus A330 operations from HKCAD. Captain Mikey Ng(Malaysian) and Captain Nejad(Iranian) were the first 2 commanders flying the A330-200 for the airline.
On 28 June 2010, schedule flight to Moscow was successfully launched.
Cellphone usage on Hong Kong Airlines flights will soon be allowed between 2009–2010. The service is stated to be provided by OnAir.[17]
On 22 October 2010, Hong Kong Airlines officially joined the IATA.
On 9 November 2011, Hong Kong Airlines is launching Daily Hong Kong – London Gatwick service from 8 March 2012, with Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The A330-200 aircraft on this route will be operating as an all Club Class service, featuring 34 “Club Premier” (business class lie-flat beds) and 82 “Club Classic” (cradle style recliner business class) seats.[18]
Hong Kong Airlines has codeshare agreements with the following airlines (at July 2011):[19]
As of July 2011, the Hong Kong Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft with an average age of 4.9 years:[20][21]
| Aircraft | Total | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
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| J | Y | Total | ||||
| Airbus A319-100 |
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| Airbus A320-200 |
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To enter service in 2012 |
| Airbus A330-200 | 6 |
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VIP Configuration plane will enter service in 2012 |
| Airbus A330-300 |
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To enter service in 2011 |
| Airbus A350-900 |
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To enter service in 2018 | ||
| Airbus A380-800 |
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To enter service in 2013 | ||
| Boeing 737–800 |
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5 leased to Hong Kong Express Airways |
| Boeing 787–8 |
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VIP Configuration [25] | ||
| Boeing 787–9 |
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| Hong Kong Airlines Cargo Fleet | ||||||
| Airbus A330-200F | 3 |
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| Boeing 737-300F |
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1 To Yangtze River Express | ||
| Boeing 777F |
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6 |
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| Total | 15 | 100 | ||||
All passenger aircraft are equipped with video broadcasting system with 20 9 inches (23 cm)-wide ceiling- or wall-mounted liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors, with two in Business Class and 18 in Economy Class.
On 20 December 2005, the airline signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Boeing to acquire 30 Boeing 737–800 aircraft and 10 Boeing 787 aircraft.[26] However, according to the airline's website, there is only a firm order of four Boeing 737–800 aircraft, with no mention of a firm order for the Boeing 787 aircraft.[27]
On 21 June 2007, the airline signed an MOU with Airbus to acquire 30 Airbus A320s, 20 Airbus A330-200s powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700[28] engines and one Airbus Corporate Jet. The order was subsequently confirmed with the signing of a firm contract with Airbus on 12 September 2007; and it will be shared between the airline and its sister airline, Hong Kong Express Airways.[27][29][30] In December 2008, three of the original order for 20 A330-200s were converted to A330-300s and transferred to Hong Kong International Aviation Leasing. They will be operated by Hong Kong Airlines.[31]
On 4 February 2010, Airbus announced another MoU signed with Hong Kong Airlines to acquire 6 more Airbus A330-200s.[32] These will have Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines[33] and were originally ordered by Grupo Marsans. At the same time, one of the A330-243s on order was converted to a −343.
At the Farnborough Air Show in July 2010, Airbus announced that Hong Kong Airlines had signed a MoU to convert orders for 15 A330s to A350s and place an additional order for 10 A330-200s.[34] No engine selection for the additional A330s was announced.
At the Paris Air Show in June 2011,Hong Kong Airlines had announced a signed contract for 10 airbus A380's [35][36] however due to China's anger with the European Union over plans to force all airlines to take part in its carbon-trading scheme,the Chinese government has blocked progress on Airbus’s sale of 10 A380s to Hong Kong Airlines.[37][38]
Aircraft that have been in service with Hong Kong Airlines are:
The airline's head office is on Level 2 of the CNAC House (中航大廈, Cantonese: jung1 hong4 daai6 ha6, Mandarin: Zhōngháng Dàshà) on the property of Hong Kong International Airport in Lantau, Hong Kong.[39][40]
The Fortune Wings Club is the loyalty programme for Hong Kong Airlines and its sister airlines, including Grand China Air, Grand China Express, Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Express Airways, Lucky Air and West Air. Membership benefits include air ticket redemption and upgrade; VIP members have additional privileges of dedicated First or Business Class check in counters, lounge access, bonus mileage and extra baggage allowance.[41]
This covers Hong Kong Airlines flights.
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