Hong Kong Express

(Redirected from Hong Kong Express Airways)

Hong Kong Express is also the title of a television drama serie produced by SBS of Korea

The Hong Kong Express Airways Limited (港聯航空) is an airline based at Hong Kong International Airport. It took delivery of its first aircraft in July 2005 and launched scheduled services to Guangzhou on September 9, 2005.

Besides its fixed wing services, the HeliExpress division of Hong Kong Express Airways Limited (HeliHongKong and East Asia Airlines based in Hong Kong and Macao respectively before the fixed wing services began) operates a fleet of five Sikorsky S76C+ helicopters on services between Hong Kong, Macao, and Shenzhen, Guangdong. It also operates local passenger charters and aerial works.

History

Hong Kong Express (港聯航空) is privately owned by Stanley Ho, a gambling tycoon with massive stakes in casinos in Macau.

In May 2005 it was announced that Hong Kong Express Airways had received approval from the Hong Kong Economic Development and Labour Bureau to operate scheduled air services to five cities in China: Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Nanjing and Ningbo.

The airline launched scheduled flights to Guangzhou on September 7, 2005, followed by flights to Hangzhou on 5th October 2005. Their first aircraft, an Embraer 170, was delivered in July 2005. Hong Kong Express is the first Asian airline to take delivery of this aircraft type. The airline initially used the aircraft on charter services to Taichung, Taiwan, prior to starting scheduled services to Guangzhou and Hangzhou in China.The airline has been granted permission to fly between Hong Kong and Taichung, Taiwan on 30th August 2005 on a charter rental scheme. In November 2005, the airline was granted permission to fly to 12 more Chinese cities and 3 other Asian destinations besides Taichung. It inaugurated charter service Hong Kong-Taichung(Taiwan),in June 2006, with 3 flights a week, and has announced to inaugurate nonstop service to Chiang Mai and Chongqing on 22 June, 2006 and 31 July, 2006 respectively. New charter service to Phuket will start on August 4, 2006, which will operate 2 flights a week. On November 16 2006, the airline had its inaugural flight to Chengdu in Sichuan Province.

Destinations

Domestic

• Hong Kong (hub)

International

As of November 2006, operating flights are:

• Hangzhou
• Chengdu
• Ningbo
• Taichung (Charter Services)
• Laoag (Charter Services)
• Chiang Mai

As of November 2006, cancelled destinations are:

• Guangzhou
• Nanjing

As of August 2005, approved destinations are:

• Okinawa

As of November 2005, approved destinations are:

• Dalian
• Dayong
• Guilin
• Jinan
• Jinjiang
• Huangshan (Tunxi)
• Koh Samui
• Kunming
• Lijiang
• Nanning
• Qingdao
• Shenyang
• Shijiazhuang
• Siem Reap
• Taichung, Taiwan
• Tianjin
• Wuxi
• Xian
• Yantai

Fleet

As of August 2006 the Hong Kong Express fleet includes ^[1] :

• 4 Embraer 170-100LR

These were the first Embraer in Hong Kong and 2nd operator in Asia (Thailand's PB air has the first 2). The first aircraft(B-KXA) was delivered in July 2005, and the second aircraft(B-KXB) was delivered on 30 September 2005. The third Embraer 170(B-KXC) was delivered on 8th December, 2005. The fourth Embraer 170 (B-KXD) was delivered on 28th May 2006. All of the four aircraft are being leased from GE Commercial Aviation Services. But it plans to add two aircraft annually over the next few years to fly to other Asian destinations, according to the company's website.

Registation codes for Hong Kong Express planes are followed by 'B-KX' which mean Hong Kong EXpress. For example, the registation code of their first aircraft they had is 'B-KXA'.

The airline intends to get a few Boeing 737 NG when they get the right to fly to a few more China destinations. ^[2]

The helicopter fleet consists of five Sikorsky S76C+, which are the Hong Kong registered B-KCC, B-HJR and Macao registered B-MHF, B-MHG, B-MHH. All of the helicopters are based in Macao.

External links

• Hong Kong Express Airways
• Hong Kong Express Airways Fleet Detail
• HeliExpress
• Airliners.net - Fleet Photo's

References

1. ^ Flight International, 3-9 October 2006
2. ^ Boeing 737 possible acquisition

See also

• List of Hong Kong companies

Airlines of Hong Kong
Air Hong Kong | Cathay Pacific | Dragonair | Hong Kong Air | Hong Kong Express | Oasis Hong Kong Airlines Defunct: Hong Kong Airways

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