Troubled Hong Kong Airlines to axe Los Angeles service and cut operations by 6 per cent under government pressure

Affected passengers will be offered alternative arrangements to minimise disruptions to travel plans, especially during upcoming holiday seasons

Transport and Housing Bureau says carrier’s financial situation is a concern

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Hong Kong Airlines has been struggling for some time. Photo: Airbus.

Published: 5:49pm, 4 Nov 2019Updated: 11:35pm, 4 Nov 2019

Financially troubled Hong Kong Airlines is cutting back its operations, including axing its Los Angeles-bound flights, under pressure from the Hong Kong government.

The city’s third largest airline, backed by the indebted Chinese conglomerate HNA Group, said it would cut the number of flights by 6 per cent, or around 20, per week including cancelling the Los Angeles route from February 8 next year.

It also said it would continue to make changes on flights to Vancouver, Osaka, Okinawa, Sapporo, Tokyo Narita, Seoul, Haikou, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Bangkok.

With Hong Kong rocked by anti-government protests for almost five months, the airline has seen its financial condition worsen as the social unrest intensified.

Affected passengers would be offered alternative arrangements to minimise disruptions to travel plans, especially during the upcoming holiday seasons, the airline said.

The Transport and Housing Bureau said the carrier’s financial situation was a concern.

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