HK Express Takes Delivery Of Its 10th Airbus A321neo Aircraft

HK Express, the low-cost carrier subsidiary of Cathay Pacific, has welcomed its tenth Airbus A321neo aircraft, enabling the airline to welcome more passengers to fly to its 31 destinations across Asia.

Growing fleet of A321neos

On November 11, HK Express, the Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)-based low-cost carrier, announced that its pilots and engineers had a four-day visit, which included inspections and test flights of the A321neo, in Toulouse, France.

The French city is home to an Airbus Delivery Center and a final assembly line (FAL) of the A320neo aircraft family, as well as the A330 and A350.

“Upon its arrival in Hong Kong, a rigorous series of maintenance checks and inspections was carried out prior to service commencement, ensuring that the aircraft meets our high standards of safety and performance.”

The airline pointed out that the A321neo, registered as B-KKJ, entered service on November 9. Then, the single-aisle jet operated a return itinerary from Hong Kong to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Thailand.

Meanwhile, Flightradar24 data showed that HK Express’ tenth A321neo departed Toulouse Blagnac Airport (TLS) on November 2 and arrived at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) on the next day.

The A321neo had a brief refueling stop at Muscat International Airport (MCT), Oman, before it continued its journey from France to Hong Kong.

Initial flights

The flight tracking site showed that since entering service on November 9, the airline has scheduled the A321neo to exclusively operate the return Hong Kong to Bangkok itinerary.

The single-aisle jet, which HK Express has configured with 263 all-economy seats, per ch-aviation data, has not operated more than two flights per day since it began operating commercial itineraries as of November 11.

Data from the aviation analytics company showed that HK Express has scheduled 97 weekly itineraries departing Hong Kong with the A321neo in November.

The three busiest routes are from Hong Kong to Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT, 33 weekly flights), Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi (BKK, 14), and Osaka Kansai International Airport (KIX, 14).

The full destination list with the type in November includes nine airports in nearby countries, including Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Thailand, with the full destination map being displayed below:

Confidence in Hong Kong

Jeanette Mao, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Hong Kong Express, said that the airline was thrilled to welcome the newest aircraft to its fleet, which was a significant step in growing its fleet to 40 aircraft.

Currently, HK Express has 39 aircraft in its fleet, with six aircraft, excluding the latest A321neo, being grounded, according to ch-aviation data. The site’s fleet record indicated that out of the six grounded jets, five are A320neo that are equipped with the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines, which have been impacted by the accelerated removals and inspections due to a manufacturing defect.

However, its A321neo aircraft are all powered by the CFM International LEAP-1A, the other engine option for the A320neo aircraft family.

Nevertheless, Mao highlighted the carrier’s confidence in the Asian market, especially as Hong Kong is ready to introduce its three-runway system (3RS) at the end of November.

“We look forward to the new opportunities it will bring. We will continue to expand our fleet, introduce new routes, and enhance our Asian flight network, providing more affordable and reliable flight options while reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as the region’s leading international aviation hub.”

Cathay Pacific’s H1 financial report showed that HK Express was scheduled to take delivery of six A321neo in the last six months of 2024, four in 2025, and up to 17 A320neo (eight) and A321neo (nine) in 2026 and beyond.

However, the report disclosed that the final number of deliveries in 2026 and beyond, which includes Cathay Pacific’s backlog of 15 aircraft during that timeframe, could be reallocated between the two carriers.