Melbourne Airport has added a fresh stamp to its departures board, welcoming a new airline and a stronger link with Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Airlines touched down at Tullamarine over the weekend, becoming the airport’s 41st carrier and boosting travel options between Victoria and the Asian hub.
The inaugural service (HX013) arrived with a water cannon salute, marking the start of three weekly flights operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The A330 service adds more than 93,000 seats a year on a route already popular with business and leisure travellers.
“We’re proud to welcome Hong Kong Airlines as Melbourne Airport’s 41st carrier and in doing so opening up new options for travellers and exporters into one of Asia’s most exciting regions,” Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos said.
“There are now more airline groups flying between Melbourne and Hong Kong than there are flying most Australian domestic routes, so it’s no surprise that consumers are making the most of the increased choice to head overseas or to come and explore Australia.”
Hong Kong Airlines Chairman of the Board of Directors Tony Ma said, “This service not only strengthens our international network coverage but also enriches the long-haul travel options available for our customers”.
“We are honoured to operate this route with our Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft, further deepening exchanges between two of the world’s most vibrant cities and promoting connectivity between Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, the wider Asian region and Australia,” he added.
“Melbourne is a city rich in tourism resources, featuring spectacular natural landscapes, world-class culinary culture, vibrant entertainment, and major international sporting events throughout the year. Its contrasting seasons to Hong Kong make it an ideal year-round holiday destination.”
Record month
The launch follows expanded bilateral air traffic rights between Australia and Hong Kong and builds on strong momentum at Melbourne Airport.
November 2025 was the hub’s busiest international month on record, with passenger numbers rising 6.9% year-on-year to 1,017,435 passengers.
Domestically, Tullamarine saw a 3.6% rise in traffic, with 2,151,703 passengers travelling locally.
Total traffic for the month (excluding transits) was 3,169,138, an increase of 4.7% y-o-y.
All images by Aaron Francis Photography.
KARRYON UNPACKS: More seats, more choice, more momentum. For travel advisors, Hong Kong Airlines’ arrival signals confidence in demand and fresh selling angles for Asia and beyond. It also reinforces Melbourne’s pull as a gateway city. With capacity climbing and borders firmly open, this is welcome news for itineraries, stopovers and corporate travel alike.
