HK Express Records 15% Year-on-Year Passenger Traffic Growth During Lunar New Year,
Carrying Over 280,000 Passengers

The longest Spring Festival holiday in Chinese Mainland drives robust travel demand, with Hong Kong and Mainland visitor numbers increasing by 30% and 50% respectively.
A single-day record of over 30,000 passengers was set on 20 February.
 

Hong Kong, 24 February 2026 – During the Lunar New Year peak travel period, supported by the extended nine-day Spring Festival holiday* in Chinese Mainland, HK Express Airways (HK Express) recorded a 15% year-on-year increase in passenger traffic growth, carrying over 280,000 passengers during the period.

Passenger numbers from Chinese Mainland increased by more than 50% compared with the same period last year. The numbers of Hong Kong passengers increased by over 30%, reflecting sustained demand across the festive peak. 20 February was the busiest travel day of the period, with over 30,000 passengers carried - a new single-day record for HK Express.

Emerging Destinations See Strong Growth During Lunar New Year

HK Express has continued to expand its Asian network in recent years, introducing exclusive routes to offer travellers unique and affordable travel experiences. During the Lunar New Year period, emerging destinations recorded strong year-on-year growth. Penang (118%), Jeju (83%) and Phu Quoc (65%) recorded the highest increases in passenger numbers compared with the same period last year. Passenger traffic on these routes is expected to continue building steadily over the course of the year.

In addition to these destinations, South Korea remained one of the strongest-performing markets in the network, with Seoul among the most popular routes. To meet peak travel demand, HK Express increased frequencies to popular destinations including Seoul, Busan, Bangkok and Taichung, deploying capacity in line with demand.

Expanded Chinese Mainland Network Supports over 20% Increase in Inbound Visitors

HK Express currently operates flights to 35 destinations across Asia, supporting both outbound and inbound travel to Hong Kong. During the Lunar New Year peak period, HK Express carried over 97,000 inbound passengers, representing an increase of more than 20% compared with last year. The largest inbound markets were Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, China and Korea.

Following the expansion of HK Express’s Chinese Mainland network to six destinations last year, inbound passenger numbers from Chinese Mainland increased by nearly 20% during this year’s Lunar New Year period.

Transit traffic via Hong Kong also recorded significant growth, with passengers connecting through Hong Kong increasing by approximately 90% compared with the same period last year. This further reinforces Hong Kong International Airport’s position as a key regional transit hub for the Greater Bay Area.

Jeanette Mao, CEO of HK Express said: “Travel demand during the Lunar New Year holiday was exceptionally strong, coinciding with the longest Spring Festival holiday in the Chinese Mainland. Outbound travel demand from Hong Kong remained robust, while a growing number of travellers from the Greater Bay Area chose to depart via Hong Kong, resulting in a significant increase in overall passenger traffic.

In response to this demand, we increased frequencies to popular destinations such as Bangkok, Seoul, Taichung and Busan, providing customers with greater flexibility and convenience during the peak travel period. The new destinations we have introduced in recent years are steadily gaining traction among our customers. Passenger numbers to Penang more than doubled, while Jeju and Phu Quoc recorded increases of approximately 80% and 60%, respectively. This reflects HK Express’s ability to identify emerging travel trends and deliver on our commitment to offering a broader range of travel options.

Looking ahead, HK Express will continue to expand its Asian network and leverage the Cathay Group’s extensive connectivity to link the Greater Bay Area with destinations across Asia through affordable fares, further strengthening Hong Kong’s role as a ‘Super-Connector’,” she added.
 

_{*The Lunar New Year travel period covers from 13 to 22 February 2026 (10 days), including the peak travel days before and after the holiday.}