After a three-year hiatus, Cathay Pacific has resumed its direct services between Hong Kong and South Africa between the two hubs.
A well-loved airline in the South African market, with consistent award-winning service standards, Cathay Pacific has a large network from its Hong Kong hub into the East.
The airline is operating an Airbus A350-900 on the 13-hour flights.
The 13-hour flight departs Hong Kong at 00h40 on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays and arrives at 07h35 the same day. The return flight departs Johannesburg at 11h20 on the same days, arriving in Hong Kong at 06h00 the following day.
The airline hopes to grow this thrice-weekly service and to resume Cape Town flights in the future.
As it ramps up its operations post-COVID, Cathay Pacific is seeing a steady increase in demand for flights.
Rakesh Raicar, Cathay Pacific’s Regional GM for South Asia, Middle East and Africa, told Travel News’ inbound sister publication, Tourism Update that the majority of passengers originated from mainland China and that regional connectivity between HKG and cities in mainland China was driving the pick-up of the inbound route.
“Prior to COVID the Chinese mainland was a big market for us, accounting for between 50% and 60% of passengers. You can see that slowly picking up now again. The slower growth in demand is understandable, considering that China and Hong Kong opened up for outbound travel much later than the rest of the world,” said Raicar.
He said current passenger numbers largely comprised expats travelling between the two destinations, VFR travellers and leisure tourists, followed by corporate travellers.
“We constantly monitor our markets for demand and South Africa is showing good promise. We would be keen to add more flights, and the resumption of a direct Cape Town flight could be on the cards should demand grow. Right now, we’re still very much ramping up,” said Raicar, pointing out that the number of Cathay Pacific’s global flights was at 50% of pre-COVID, reaching 70% by the end of the year.
He said the outbound South African market was booming, with flights from JNB to HKG fully booked.
“We are thrilled to be flying South African skies again, bringing the ease and convenience of a non-stop connection to Hong Kong back to South African customers, not to mention reopening travel into the rest of Asia’s many exotic destinations for business and leisure customers.”
