HK Express website crashes, leaving passengers unable to check in online or book flights
Budget carrier said it was working hard to find a solution to the problem and advised passengers with flights booked to arrive at the airport early
Budget airline Hong Kong Express faced fresh embarrassment on Thursday after its website stopped working ahead of the busy four-day Easter holiday, just days before sanctions against the airline were lifted for a previous cancellation blunder.
Passengers were unable to book flights online with the low-cost carrier for most of the day and the airline warned it could not facilitate online check-ins, urging passengers to go to the airport earlier than normal. Some flights were delayed, but it was unclear if it was linked to the website troubles.
Hong Kong Express said at 12.35am on Friday: “Dear fans, our website and booking engine are back up and running now. You can continue to enjoy our signature fares and speedy web check in. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.” However, when trying to access the airline’s website in Hong Kong using different devices, the website would still not load at the time.
We are still working hard to fix our website and booking engine
When contacting the airline’s customer service hotline, a staff member explained the website was “under maintenance” and could not say when it would be working again. Prospective passengers were being asked to book through online travel agents.
Bad publicity coupled with the airline being unable to fulfil its scheduled flights prompted the Hong Kong aviation regulator to punish the carrier, banning it from adding new flights or new planes for new destinations for six months.
The sanctions are set to be lifted, if the regulator is satisfied the airline has improved, by the end of March.