HK Express Named “Most Improved Connected Airline for Northeast Asia 2025”
Route expansions help lift Hong Kong International Airport into the global top five Low-Cost Megahubs in OAG’s Megahubs 2025
Hong Kong, 26 September HK Express Airways (HK Express) has been recognised by the global travel data platform OAG as the “Most Improved Connected Airline for Northeast Asia 2025” in the newly released “Megahubs 2025”1. This accolade is a testimony to HK Express’s commitment to expanding its Asian route network, providing customers with a wider range of flight options, and contributing to Cathay Group’s achievement of reaching over 100 global passenger destinations. Additionally, this recognition has helped elevate Hong Kong International Airport from 24th place last year to the world’s top five largest low-cost airline hubs in the world, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as an international aviation hub.
HK Express CEO Jeanette Mao said: “We are deeply honoured to receive further industry recognition, after previously being acknowledged as the “World’s Fastest Growing Airline in 2024” by OAG. This affirms our commitment to enhancing Hong Kong International Airport’s route connectivity. Our ongoing expansion is pivotal to driving passenger growth and bolstering Hong Kong's position as a leading international aviation hub.”
“In line with the latest 2025 Policy Address, we are leveraging the new opportunities presented by the Three-Runway System and Hong Kong’s strategic role as the transit hub for the Greater Bay Area to further expand our Asian network. Since the start of 2025, we have launched twelve new destinations, achieving a capacity growth of nearly 40% in the first eight months compared to the same period last year2. Notably, 17 of our 40 destinations are pioneered and operated by HK Express- underscoring the uniqueness of our network and further strengthening Hong Kong’s aviation hub competitiveness. This expansion provides travellers with more destination choices, attracting more visitors to experience and transit through Hong Kong,” she added.
“Hong Kong has seen the most significant growth, with low-cost carrier connections tripling, driven primarily by HK Express, which added 16 new routes over the past year3 to the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Malaysia.”, said Mayur Patel, Head of ASPAC at OAG.
HK Express is continuously expanding and optimising the Asian network, with a strategic focus on key markets in the Chinese Mainland, Northeast Asia, and Southeast Asia through active introduction of new destinations, bringing a total of 40 destinations across Asia—over 70% of which are in Northeast Asia, including Japan, South Korea, the Chinese Mainland, and Taiwan China.
HK Express remains committed to providing customers with more convenient travel options, offering greater flexibility to explore Asia. Furthermore, we are also enhancing our intermodal transfer services in the Greater Bay Area, leveraging Hong Kong’s role as the regional transit hub to offer a seamless travel experience for passengers connecting through Hong Kong. This initiative further promotes business and tourism exchanges, reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as a “Super-Connector”.