HONG KONG: Hong Kong Airlines To Seize Hong Kong-San Francisco Flights October 5

Hong Kong Airlines will stop its Hong Kong-San Francisco service from October 5 this year, less than two years after first launching the service.

The decision comes following a review of its network and a change in business plan for USA market, the airline said in a statement published on its website.

The final flights between Hong Kong and San Francisco (HX60 and HX61) will be operated on October 4 this year. Passengers who have bought tickets for Hong Kong-San Francisco flights beyond that date will be offered alternative arrangements.

They can change the departure date for flights between the two cities for free before October 5, while those who decide to cancel their flights will get a full refund.

Passengers are also eligible for a free change to any destination that Hong Kong Airlines flies to though applicable fare and tax differences may apply, or a free transfer to other partner carriers which will be arranged by Hong Kong Airlines but subject to availability.

Hong Kong Airlines first launched this route in March 2018 and it currently flies this route four times a week.

The carrier will reduce the frequency of the service to three times weekly (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) starting from August 31, with its Sunday service cancelled.

Affected passengers can find contact details for Hong Kong Airlines’ customer assistance.

Hong Kong Airlines is not the only carrier that flies non-stop between Hong Kong and San Francisco: Cathay Pacific operates this route three times daily; United Airlines has recently announced that it will add a second non-stop service between the two cities from October.

Singapore Airlines also flies daily between Hong Kong and San Francisco, though it should be noted that the flight (SQ2) is actually a direct service between Singapore and San Francisco, with a stopover in Hong Kong.

In addition to San Francisco, in the North American market Hong Kong Airlines also operates long-haul flights to Vancouver and Los Angeles.

Hong Kong Airlines is a subsidiary of HNA Group, a Chinese conglomerate which is facing huge debts and a financial crisis. HK Express, once a subsidiary carrier of HNA Group, was fully acquired by Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific this month.

Ricky Chong Wai-ki, director of corporate governance and development of Hong Kong Airlines, said the airline had not ruled out a complete cut of long-haul flights in an interview with Hong Kong-based newspaper the South China Morning Post in June.

For North American flights, even airlines like Cathay face a lot of pressure so we keep reviewing. Our North American flights will be our short-term focus that we need to consolidate, said Chong.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong Airlines has also announced that it will discontinue its Hong Kong-Fuzhou service from September 2, while it will boost flights to three short-haul destinations.

The carrier will add a daily flight between Hong Kong and Haikou from September 2, four additional weekly flights between Hong Kong and Hangzhou from September 8 and two additional weekly flights between Hong Kong and Sapporo from September 28.

The arrangements will bring the total number of its Haikou, Hangzhou and Sapporo services to three daily flights, 14 weekly flights, and 11 weekly flights, respectively.

Last month, the carrier rolled out a series of new amenity kits for its business class passengers travelling on long-haul flights to North America.


Tourism Observer

CHINA: Air China Cargo Bans Shark Fin Transportation

Air China Cargo has become the first mainland carrier to ban the transport of shark fin, dealing another blow to the international trade.

The carrier, which is part of Air China and responsible for cargo shipment on freight planes and the airline’s commercial aircraft, did not specify when the policy change would take effect.

Some 36 airlines have now joined the ban globally.

In a statement posted on its website on Friday, the cargo company said it was committed to playing a bigger role in global sustainability.

“We understand the community’s desire to promote responsible and sustainable marine sourcing practices, and this remains important to Air China Cargo’s overall sustainable development goals,” the statement read.

“Therefore, on the issue of shark fin, we reiterate our ‘No Shark Fin’ carriage policy.”

[Pressure has been growing on carriers to impose the ban on the trade, even though shark’s fin soup is a popular traditional Chinese dish. Photo: Sam Tsang]

Last year, budget carrier HK Express became the first local carrier to implement a ban, followed in recent months by Cathay Pacific and Dragonair.

Other major airlines observing the ban include British Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and American Airlines.

Also in July, mainland China’s biggest shipping and ­logistics company, China Ocean Shipping Company (Cosco Shipping), pledged a total ban on shark fin transportation.

The shipping giant is the fourth-largest container operator in the world with a 7.7 per cent market share.

Alex Hofford, a wildlife activist from conservation group WildAid, said Air China’s action to save sharks would be far-reaching.

“Scientists estimate that fins from up to 73 million sharks a year are used for shark’s fin soup, with much of the trade in shark fin destined for China,” he said.

“Air China’s ‘No Shark Fin’ commitment is therefore hugely significant because, despite government efforts, China [including Hong Kong] is a country where significant demand for shark’s fin soup still exists.

“It’s a bold move and this is likely to have a huge and lasting impact on shark populations and marine ecosystems worldwide,” he added.

Hofford said full enforcement of the ban by airlines and shipping lines was vital to ensure its effectiveness in protecting shark populations.

He urged vigilance against deliberate mislabelling of shark fin cargo to stop people from circumventing the ban.

Focus has now turned to mainland China’s other major airlines, especially one of the biggest global carriers by revenue – China Southern Airlines. The company is based in Guangzhou, an area singled out as a major shark fin trading hub, WildAid said.

According to the group, research suggested that Chinese consumption of shark fin fell by 50 to 70 per cent in recent years.