Hong Kong Airlines is seeking additional aircraft to meet increasing passenger demand, with a focus on the used aircraft market as wait times for new planes extend beyond the next decade.
Currently operating thirty aircraft, the airline seeks to increase its fleet by one-third and is negotiating leases for five to ten aircraft, including both narrowbodies and widebodies.
Zhan Guicai, the airline’s vice president, cited strong demand for long-haul flights, exemplified by the success of the newly launched Hong Kong-Vancouver International service with an average passenger load of 90%.
Future plans include expanding long-haul connections to Europe, the US, and starting services to Melbourne Airport, while services to Sydney Kingsford Smith are set to commence in June 2023.
The unpredictability of the used aircraft market complicates accurate growth forecasts, with the airline recently opting not to acquire B787-8s due to their perceived inadequacy for long-haul operations.
