Sydneysiders and other Aussies can look forward to a greater choice of flights to one of the world’s most exciting cities, with the announcement that Hong Kong Airlines will launch a daily service between Sydney and Hong Kong.
Commencing 20 June 2025, the new service boosts daily Sydney-HK flights from five to six and seat capacity on the route by nearly 20%. With the arrival of Hong Kong Airlines, Sydney Airport now hosts 52 carriers, which is a record for Australia’s busiest hub.
In 2024, more than 850,000 passengers flew between the NSW capital and the Asian metropolis, making Hong Kong Sydney’s third-busiest international route after Singapore and Auckland.
“The arrival of Hong Kong Airlines marks an important new chapter for Sydney Airport and strengthens the long-standing connection between Sydney and Hong Kong,” Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said.
“This new daily service not only increases capacity but also provides passengers with more choice to explore one of Asia’s most vibrant cities.
“The arrival of Hong Kong Airlines will enhance opportunities for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between Sydney and Hong Kong, delivering significant economic benefits to New South Wales, and Australia.
“The support of the NSW Government and Destination NSW was critical in securing this new service and it’s a great example of how our strong and productive partnership is delivering for Sydney and NSW.”
Schedule information
| Flight Number | Origin / Destination | Departure / Arrival (Local) |
| HX17 | HKG-SYD | 22:25 – 09:50+1 |
| HX18 | SYD-HKG | 11:30 – 19:15 |
The move comes on the back of an expansion of bilateral air traffic rights between Hong Kong and Australia – the first in nearly 20 years – highlighting strong demand on the route.
“I would also like to thank and recognise the Albanese Government for their recent work in delivering the expansion of bilateral air traffic rights between Hong Kong and Australia,” Charlton said.
“The new services announced today are a direct consequence of these efforts and will boost trade, economic growth, and job creation.”
Sydney and Hong Kong share a long aviation history, dating back to Qantas’ first charter service in 1949. However, until now, Hong Kong Airlines has not operated a service to an Australian capital city.
“This is an important milestone for Hong Kong Airlines,” Hong Kong Airlines Chairman Yan Bo said.
“In the past, we only operated flights to the Gold Coast and Cairns in Australia, offering passengers access to popular tourist hotspots in Queensland.
“Now, we are honoured to extend our reach to Sydney, the country’s most iconic city. This new route will enable us to serve a broader range of international travellers and is also a testament to the efforts of the two governments to actively support more bilateral air traffic rights.”
In another development, Hong Kong International Airport recently launched a three-runway system, which will enhance capacity, accommodating up to 120 million passengers annually.
“This new service will promote tourism, economic and cultural ties between Hong Kong and Australia,” Hong Kong Airlines President Jeff Sun said.
“Sydney and Hong Kong have a rich shared history in aviation, and we are proud to be a part of this new chapter. Not only will it bring convenience to travellers, but it will also serve as a bridge connecting with our extensive mainland Chinese network.”
Tourism wins
Indeed, the new service should provide a welcome boost to two-way tourism between the major cities.
“The NSW Government is working to grow our visitor economy and boosting aviation capacity to key markets like Hong Kong will be critical in achieving that growth,” NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said.
“Hong Kong is a priority international market for Sydney, with incoming travellers contributing $290 million to the NSW visitor economy over the last year.”
Echoing Graham’s remarks, Tourism Australia Managing Director Phillipa Harrison welcomed the new service.
“When the new direct services begin in June it will be easier than ever before for Hong Kong business and leisure travellers to visit Australia,” she stated.
“We hope these daily services will help to drive increased visitation, providing a further boost to our visitor economy.”
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King lauded the recent Australian air capacity increases.
“Since coming to government, we’ve landed a record number of air services agreements with over a dozen international markets, including Hong Kong, Canada, Malaysia, Chile, Turkiye, Vietnam and Sri Lanka,” she remarked.
“We’re so pleased to see Sydney Airport leveraging Australia’s new bilateral air agreements – with Turkiye since November and now with Hong Kong.
“The Australian Government is working to expand our international aviation network, because more flights means more competition, more choice, and a better experience for Australian travellers.”
In January, Hong Kong Airlines resumed its Gold Coast flights, marking the carrier’s return to Australia and the resumption of its long-haul routes.
