https://www.scmp.com/rss/503732/feed Laura Westbrook is a correspondent covering Hong Kong. Prior to joining the Post, Laura was a reporter, presenter and senior producer at BBC World News in London. She has also worked as a news reporter in Hong Kong and New Zealand. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com February 18 marks five years since Beijing unveiled its blueprint to turn the Greater Bay Area into a hi-tech powerhouse by 2035. The region of more than 86 million people covers Hong Kong, Macau and nine Guangdong cities. In the final of a four-part series, Laura Westbrook looks at how different cities are vying to conquer the skies and who’s flying high and who risks being left behind. Here are the links for parts one, two and three. When CEO Pete Chareonwongsak was deciding how to streamline... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3252298/hong-kong-airport-facing-even-stronger-headwinds-rivals-shenzhen-and-guangzhou-eye-air-supremacy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3252298/hong-kong-airport-facing-even-stronger-headwinds-rivals-shenzhen-and-guangzhou-eye-air-supremacy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Feb 2024 01:00:27 +0000 Top government adviser Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee has said domestic national security legislation will not turn Hong Kong into another mainland Chinese city, rebuffing foreign businessmen’s concerns that the proposed law will undermine the city’s judicial independence. Ip, a lawmaker and the convenor of the government’s key decision-making Executive Council, on Friday told a radio programme that foreign countries had a wrong impression that the “one country, two systems” governing principle would... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3252161/regina-ip-hits-back-criticism-domestic-national-security-legislation-insists-it-will-not-turn-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3252161/regina-ip-hits-back-criticism-domestic-national-security-legislation-insists-it-will-not-turn-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Feb 2024 06:12:21 +0000 Hong Kong’s airport ranked fourth-busiest for international passengers in the Asia-Pacific region last year, and analysts have urged the city to “find its niche” if it hopes to attract more people back and regain its former pole position as the nation grapples with an economic slowdown. The experts added the city’s passenger levels also hinged on whether its flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways, which recently cancelled flights due to staffing shortages, would be able to hire enough workers to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3251756/hong-kong-airport-ranks-fourth-passenger-traffic-asia-pacific-region-city-urged-find-tourism-niche?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3251756/hong-kong-airport-ranks-fourth-passenger-traffic-asia-pacific-region-city-urged-find-tourism-niche?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Feb 2024 01:18:20 +0000 This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Tens of thousands of people flocked to one of Hong Kong’s most popular shopping districts for the return of the annual Lunar New Year parade after a five-year break. Undeterred by cold weather on the first day of the Year of the Dragon, many of the estimated 44,000 revellers lined the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui hours ahead of the Saturday night extravaganza to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3251638/enter-dragon-tens-thousands-flock-first-lunar-new-year-parade-hong-kong-5-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3251638/enter-dragon-tens-thousands-flock-first-lunar-new-year-parade-hong-kong-5-years?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Feb 2024 11:52:56 +0000 A 56-metre (184-foot) aerial ladder attached to a fire truck collapsed on Friday at a fire station in Hong Kong during a monthly inspection, blocking the traffic of a nearby main road. The Fire Services Department said the mechanically-operated extendable ladder attached to the fire truck at Kowloon Bay fire station collapsed across three lanes of Kai Cheung Road in Kowloon Bay at 3.25pm on Friday afternoon. No injuries or casualties were reported. According to footage from a car dashboard... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3251598/fire-truck-aerial-ladder-collapses-blocks-traffic-main-road-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3251598/fire-truck-aerial-ladder-collapses-blocks-traffic-main-road-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Feb 2024 15:44:16 +0000 Hong Kong restaurants enjoying strong bookings over the Lunar New Year are not cheering yet, worrying instead about the city’s weakened economy and the ongoing trend of residents going across the border to eat out and spend. Simon Wong Ka-wo, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, estimated there would be about 15 per cent fewer bookings of banquet tables during the festive season compared to last year, when people rushed to dine out after almost three years of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3251537/hong-kong-restaurants-set-lukewarm-start-year-dragon-business-takes-hit-residents-leaving-city-break?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3251537/hong-kong-restaurants-set-lukewarm-start-year-dragon-business-takes-hit-residents-leaving-city-break?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Feb 2024 09:00:14 +0000 Hong Kong will welcome more than 1 million mainland Chinese visitors for the Lunar New Year holiday as a series of festive celebrations, including fireworks, return to the city and border checkpoints plan extended opening hours. Fanny Yeung Shuk-fun, the executive director of the Travel Industry Council, predicted the number of visitors from the mainland to Hong Kong between February 10 and 17 would hit about 1.2 million, 80 to 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. She said about 130 tour groups a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3251295/lunar-new-year-travel-hong-kong-receive-more-1-million-mainland-chinese-tourists-during-festive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3251295/lunar-new-year-travel-hong-kong-receive-more-1-million-mainland-chinese-tourists-during-festive?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Feb 2024 11:24:06 +0000 Foreign business chambers and diplomats in Hong Kong have admitted they are concerned about risks to investment and potential enforcement standards that could affect their nationals under the city’s home-grown national security law, despite many of them showing public support for the proposed legislation. Members of the International Chamber of Commerce were among those worried that the new legislation and the 2020 Beijing-imposed national security law could cause greater risks in Hong Kong amid... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3251282/diplomats-and-overseas-business-chambers-hong-kong-worried-about-effects-planned-city-national?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3251282/diplomats-and-overseas-business-chambers-hong-kong-worried-about-effects-planned-city-national?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Feb 2024 10:31:14 +0000 This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Tens of thousands of fans who paid premium prices or spent exorbitant sums on scalped tickets to watch Lionel Messi play in Hong Kong left deeply disappointed as the football star sat out the highly anticipated exhibition game on Sunday. The government demanded answers from the organisers, who had led the city to believe Messi would play despite an injury,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3250909/messi-affair-hong-kong-no-show-argentine-football-legend-leaves-fans-furious-sparks-calls-refund?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3250909/messi-affair-hong-kong-no-show-argentine-football-legend-leaves-fans-furious-sparks-calls-refund?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Feb 2024 15:29:48 +0000 Tributes to the late Australian actor Gregory Charles Rivers poured in over the weekend after the Hong Kong TV drama star was found dead in a suspected suicide at his home in Clear Water Bay on Friday. Police discovered his body near a tray of burning charcoal at his house in Tai Au Mun Village, after receiving a report from his family. No suicide note was found at the scene. He was 58. Hundreds of fans took to social media to express their grief on Saturday and Sunday, posting tributes to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3250902/fans-pay-tribute-late-hong-kong-drama-actor-gregory-charles-rivers-days-after-his-suspected-suicide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3250902/fans-pay-tribute-late-hong-kong-drama-actor-gregory-charles-rivers-days-after-his-suspected-suicide?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Feb 2024 13:13:56 +0000 Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has promised to improve operations, with its CEO admitting a recent wave of flight cancellations has negatively affected customer confidence and its brand reputation. In an internal memo sent to all staff on Wednesday, Cathay Pacific CEO Ronald Lam Siu-por said the decision to cut flights until the end of February to ensure services were not disrupted over the busy Lunar New Year period was a setback. “This incident has negatively impacted our brand... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3250432/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-chief-promises-better-performance-admits-flight-cancellations-negatively?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3250432/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-chief-promises-better-performance-admits-flight-cancellations-negatively?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Jan 2024 08:48:48 +0000 Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has said it will offer a new bonus to pilots who fly during the Lunar New Year holiday in a bid to minimise disruptions. According to a memo issued on Tuesday and seen by the Post, Captain Chris Kempis, Cathay Pacific’s director of flight operations, said the airline would trial the special flying allowance between February 7 and 18 before deciding whether to expand it to other holiday periods. Hong Kong’s Cathay group carries over 20 million... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3250267/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-offer-new-incentives-pilots-lunar-new-year-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3250267/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-offer-new-incentives-pilots-lunar-new-year-work?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Jan 2024 06:28:42 +0000 A senior airport official has expressed confidence Hong Kong will restore its passenger traffic to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year, while noting it will depend on factors such as demand from mainland China and flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways increasing flight capacity. Steven Yiu Siu-chung, an executive director at the Airport Authority, also told the Post that the expanded Terminal 2 would open in phases, depending on the traffic exceeding 75 million passengers – slightly above... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3250019/hong-kong-track-restore-passenger-traffic-pre-pandemic-levels-end-year-senior-airport-authority?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3250019/hong-kong-track-restore-passenger-traffic-pre-pandemic-levels-end-year-senior-airport-authority?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Jan 2024 11:30:25 +0000 Hong Kong’s Cathay group carried more than 20 million passengers last year, the company revealed on Wednesday, with an analyst saying the figure represented 56 per cent of the pre-pandemic level in 2019. The group operates premium service carrier Cathay Pacific Airways and budget unit HK Express, with the former accounting for 18 million passengers in 2023. Independent aviation analyst Brendan Sobie estimated HK Express carried 4 million passengers. The Cathay group’s recovery rate was about 56... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3249667/hong-kongs-cathay-group-carries-over-20-million-passengers-2023-analyst-estimating-firm-back-56-pre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3249667/hong-kongs-cathay-group-carries-over-20-million-passengers-2023-analyst-estimating-firm-back-56-pre?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jan 2024 15:49:16 +0000 Hong Kong’s air passenger traffic figures climbed to 75 per cent of pre-pandemic levels last month, but staff shortages and slower-than-expected recovery of outbound demand from mainland China remain a concern for a full recovery this year, analysts have said. The Airport Authority reported on Monday that a year high of 4.3 million passengers passed through the airport in December – 75 per cent of the figure for the same month in 2019, before Covid-19 hit. The authority said that daily passenger... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3249393/christmas-cheer-hong-kongs-airport-logs-post-covid-record-passenger-numbers-over-festive-season?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3249393/christmas-cheer-hong-kongs-airport-logs-post-covid-record-passenger-numbers-over-festive-season?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Jan 2024 13:55:57 +0000 The head of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong has called on the government to negotiate a double taxation treaty with Canberra, saying such a deal would ensure the city remained attractive to talent from the country that might otherwise go to regional rival Singapore. In her first interview with Hong Kong media since becoming chamber chairwoman last year, Josephine Orgill also recommended broadening the city’s talent schemes to include sectors such as catering and construction,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3249257/hong-kong-may-lose-australian-talent-singapore-if-canberra-puts-tax-squeeze-expats-business-chamber?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3249257/hong-kong-may-lose-australian-talent-singapore-if-canberra-puts-tax-squeeze-expats-business-chamber?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Jan 2024 00:30:20 +0000 Medical experts in Hong Kong have warned that Covid-19 cases could rise sharply in the next two months, urging those deemed at high risk to get vaccinated with the latest generation of jabs before the Lunar New Year break. The two health scholars from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) on Sunday also advised residents to try “mixed” jabs, such as those who initially started with Sinovac shots opting for a BioNTech or Moderna mRNA booster. They added that now was the time to get a booster jab to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3249243/hong-kong-risk-sharp-rise-covid-cases-next-2-months-experts-urge-vulnerable-groups-get-booster-jabs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3249243/hong-kong-risk-sharp-rise-covid-cases-next-2-months-experts-urge-vulnerable-groups-get-booster-jabs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Jan 2024 10:26:05 +0000 A Korean Air Lines plane collided with a stationary Cathay Pacific Airways aircraft on Tuesday at Japan’s New Chitose Airport, which serves Sapporo, but no injuries were reported. Cathay said its flight CX583 from Sapporo to Hong Kong would not operate as scheduled as a result of the incident but most customers would be moved onto another service on Tuesday and the rest on Wednesday. According to a Korean Air spokeswoman, flight KE766 was being pushed backwards from its parking position by a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3248657/korean-air-jet-clips-cathay-pacific-aircraft-japans-sapporo-airport-no-injuries-reported?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3248657/korean-air-jet-clips-cathay-pacific-aircraft-japans-sapporo-airport-no-injuries-reported?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jan 2024 11:08:26 +0000 Macau will stop horse racing in April after the government and the local Jockey Club agreed to terminate their contract due to the latter’s financial difficulties and struggle to meet social development needs, bringing an end to the sport in the city after more than four decades. Macau Secretary for Administration and Justice Cheong Weng-chon on Monday said the government had no plans to hold another public tendering exercise after agreeing to terminate its concession contract with the Macau... https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3248450/macau-jockey-club-loses-horse-racing-rights-after-joint-decision-authorities-terminate-contract-amid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3248450/macau-jockey-club-loses-horse-racing-rights-after-joint-decision-authorities-terminate-contract-amid?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Jan 2024 05:56:19 +0000 Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has defended its relaxation of captain training criteria, saying it is targeted at short-haul pilots who build up flying hours more slowly despite operating a greater number of flights, but a union has warned the move is no solution to staffing problems. The decision by Cathay Pacific, which has cancelled hundreds of flights since December 24 as it struggles with long-term staff shortages and stiff competition from other airlines for flight crew,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3248396/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-defends-relaxation-captain-training-criteria-says-it-targets-short-haul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3248396/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-defends-relaxation-captain-training-criteria-says-it-targets-short-haul?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Jan 2024 13:31:02 +0000 Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways’ CEO has apologised for the airline’s handling of a recent wave of flight cancellations, promising that there will be no new rounds of service changes. The airline’s focus would be ensuring its day-to-day operations over the Lunar New Year holiday and beyond were “reliable, steady and normal”, Cathay Pacific’s Ronald Lam Siu-por said on Thursday. The carrier would establish a working group to investigate the cancellations and suggest how the company... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3248077/ceo-hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-apologises-wave-flight-cancellations-promises-no-more-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3248077/ceo-hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-apologises-wave-flight-cancellations-promises-no-more-service?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jan 2024 08:47:44 +0000 When Peggy Li’s uncle died on New Year’s Eve, the Dubai-based hospitality industry worker immediately booked a ticket to fly home to Hong Kong for the funeral. She decided to fly with Cathay Pacific Airways, which she used regularly over the past three decades, as the schedule suited her needs and she preferred the extra legroom available in premium economy class. But Li would now think twice before flying with Cathay again, she said. Seventy-two hours after she bought her ticket, the airline... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3247975/too-few-pilots-chaotic-rosters-why-hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-cancelling-flights-and-its-vow-worst?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3247975/too-few-pilots-chaotic-rosters-why-hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-cancelling-flights-and-its-vow-worst?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jan 2024 01:00:19 +0000 Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways cancelled another 21 flights on Monday, almost double the expected average announced a day earlier in its plan to ensure normal operations for the Lunar New Year holiday period, with the government expressing “grave concerns” over the scheme. A check of Hong Kong International Airport’s website showed the airline cancelled 11 inbound and 10 outbound flights. Cathay scrapped at least 10 departing and nine arriving flights on Sunday, with the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3247634/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-cancels-21-flights-monday-almost-double-daily-average-announced-plan-ease?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3247634/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-cancels-21-flights-monday-almost-double-daily-average-announced-plan-ease?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Jan 2024 05:59:00 +0000 Fourteen Hongkongers on board an airliner that caught fire following a collision with a coastguard aircraft at Tokyo’s Haneda airport are safe and have sought help from the Immigration Department. The department on Wednesday said the residents’ calls for assistance it had received had been referred to the Chinese embassy in Tokyo and it would issue travel documents and provide all necessary assistance. It would maintain close contact with the 14 residents, and their situation would also be... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3247173/14-hongkongers-board-japan-airlines-plane-involved-fatal-collision-seek-immigration-department-help?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3247173/14-hongkongers-board-japan-airlines-plane-involved-fatal-collision-seek-immigration-department-help?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jan 2024 11:49:30 +0000 Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways is back in the spotlight after a woman managed to get onto a plane in Tokyo reportedly without a boarding pass, raising concerns about how such an incident could occur. Shukor Yusof, founder of aviation advisory firm Endau Analytics, described the security breach as serious and “beyond comprehension” given protocols for airline passengers. Cathay Pacific said the boarding of the flight on December 28 involved a “case of unauthorised access”. The Post... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3247088/beyond-comprehension-woman-got-cathay-pacific-hong-kong-flight-tokyo-reportedly-without-boarding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3247088/beyond-comprehension-woman-got-cathay-pacific-hong-kong-flight-tokyo-reportedly-without-boarding?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jan 2024 03:09:06 +0000 Hong Kong resident Benny Sze makes a beeline to mainland China twice a month for leisure because transport, drinks, meals and hotels all cost far less than at home. The 36-year-old graphic designer cannot resist splashing out in neighbouring Shenzhen despite having negative perceptions of the mainland after Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong following anti-government protests in 2019. “Feeling negatively towards the mainland is one thing, but the fact is Shenzhen offers a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3247058/has-hong-kong-lost-its-way-tourism-business-and-there-route-back-despite-stiff-competition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3247058/has-hong-kong-lost-its-way-tourism-business-and-there-route-back-despite-stiff-competition?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jan 2024 00:30:07 +0000 Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has pledged to avoid repeating recent service cancellations, even as many pilots reach their maximum flying hours and some lament increased fatigue amid concerns over a staff shortage. In an internal memo issued on Saturday and seen by the Post, Cathay Pacific director of flight operations Chris Kempis said the airline had operated nearly 8 per cent more services per day during the Christmas and New Year holiday period despite having cancelled less... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3246764/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-vows-avoid-repeat-recent-flight-cancellations-even-many-pilots-reach-hour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3246764/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-vows-avoid-repeat-recent-flight-cancellations-even-many-pilots-reach-hour?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Dec 2023 11:53:11 +0000 Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has cancelled more than a dozen flights over the past week and an additional 28 from Friday in the run-up to New Year’s Eve, citing seasonal illnesses affecting pilots. But a union representing the airline’s cockpit crew on Friday said the cancellations stemmed from a staff shortage caused by pandemic-related lay-offs, a situation which could take years to fix. The airline apologised to affected passengers and pledged to minimise disruptions caused... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3246597/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-cancels-flights-seasonal-illnesses-affect-pilots-union-says-staff-shortage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3246597/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-cancels-flights-seasonal-illnesses-affect-pilots-union-says-staff-shortage?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Dec 2023 03:10:12 +0000 Hong Kong recorded its lowest urban area temperature for the winter at 8.1 degrees Celsius (46.6 Fahrenheit) and issued its first frost warning on Saturday, with the local forecaster alerting residents to possible icy conditions that could lead to slippery roads. The Hong Kong Observatory said a winter monsoon and rainband were behind the cold weather in the morning, with parts of Kowloon, Sai Kung, Sha Tin and Tai Po recording temperatures between 6 and 7 degrees. “Owing to possible icing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3246092/hongkongers-should-be-careful-slippery-roads-persistent-cold-weather-may-cause-icy-conditions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3246092/hongkongers-should-be-careful-slippery-roads-persistent-cold-weather-may-cause-icy-conditions?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Dec 2023 04:09:05 +0000 Hong Kong has been hit by a holiday exodus with more than 1 million people leaving over the past two days, as residents take advantage of the first Christmas since pandemic restrictions were lifted and borders fully reopened to the world. More than 599,200 people left the city on Saturday via air, land and sea control points by 9pm, Immigration Department data showed, with 70,842 flying out from the airport. Some 337,898 people arrived in Hong Kong. The total number of people departing on Friday... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3246074/hong-kong-experience-holiday-exodus-first-christmas-without-pandemic-travel-restrictions-travel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3246074/hong-kong-experience-holiday-exodus-first-christmas-without-pandemic-travel-restrictions-travel?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Dec 2023 00:30:20 +0000 Hong Kong’s airport is bracing itself for a Christmas rush, with more than 1,000 flights and up to 160,000 passengers every day over the Christmas and New Year holidays – a post-Covid-19 pandemic high. The news came as the Airport Authority on Wednesday predicted the aviation economy would return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of next year at the earliest. “We are not slow at all compared to major airports around the world,” Steven Yiu Siu-chung, the authority’s executive director of airport... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3245766/hong-kongs-airport-braces-itself-christmas-rush-passenger-levels-expected-hit-post-pandemic-high?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3245766/hong-kongs-airport-braces-itself-christmas-rush-passenger-levels-expected-hit-post-pandemic-high?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Dec 2023 10:07:32 +0000 Flying in 2024 may be easier than it has been for years, with more direct routes laid on as airlines finally recover from the pandemic and reconnect their networks – but fares are expected to stay high, leaving bargain hunters scrambling for deals. Here are a few tips and tricks for getting the most out of air travel next year. Book early, and on Sundays According to Expedia, one of the world’s biggest travel booking sites, international flights are cheaper if you book them on a Sunday, compared... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3245233/how-get-2024s-best-airfares-book-early-leave-thursdays-look-out-dupes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3245233/how-get-2024s-best-airfares-book-early-leave-thursdays-look-out-dupes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Dec 2023 03:30:21 +0000 On a chilly December morning in Geneva, Willie Walsh, the aviation world’s pugnacious champion, delivered some warm news on a global recovery in flying, predicting a bumper 2024 for airlines. But in the fair-weather world of travel, the Asia-Pacific region, once the fastest-growing aviation market globally, is now lagging behind. Volatile oil prices and limited airline capacity have been pushing up fares across the region, as the much-touted post-pandemic “revenge travel” trend is muted by... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3245254/absent-chinese-tourists-weigh-asia-pacific-airlines-recovery-regional-travel-rebound-stumbles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3245254/absent-chinese-tourists-weigh-asia-pacific-airlines-recovery-regional-travel-rebound-stumbles?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Dec 2023 01:30:21 +0000 Global travel demand to and from mainland China is recovering at a “strong” pace, an international airline association head has said, but analysts have warned that the country’s economic slowdown and geopolitical tensions could hinder a return to pre-pandemic levels next year. International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general Willie Walsh also told the Post the trade lobby had predicted that the mainland’s international travel demand would recover next year. “The pace of recovery... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3244562/global-travel-demand-and-mainland-china-recovering-strong-pace-iata-chief-says-analysts-cautious?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3244562/global-travel-demand-and-mainland-china-recovering-strong-pace-iata-chief-says-analysts-cautious?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:30:16 +0000 The Hong Kong aviation sector’s recovery is proving “stronger than expected” and is being driven by initiatives to boost traffic into the city and Greater Bay Area, the head of an international airline trade body has said, with the industry globally expected to post a US$23.3 billion profit this year. Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), on Wednesday said Hong Kong was making “considerable progress” as the sector recovered to pre-pandemic... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3244115/recovery-hong-kong-aviation-sector-stronger-expected-iata-chief-says-pointing-greater-bay-area?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3244115/recovery-hong-kong-aviation-sector-stronger-expected-iata-chief-says-pointing-greater-bay-area?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Dec 2023 14:01:52 +0000 Hong Kong’s biggest free-to-air broadcaster will lay off more than 300 staff, or 8 per cent of its headcount, and cut the number of its television channels to four as part of a restructuring plan following five straight years of losses. TVB said on Monday that the restructuring of its businesses would result in savings of HK$100 million on content and another HK$50 million to HK$60 million in annual fixed costs and overheads in its e-commerce unit in 2024. The planned job cuts follow earlier... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3243003/struggling-hong-kong-broadcaster-tvb-cut-300-jobs-reduce-number-channels-4?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3243003/struggling-hong-kong-broadcaster-tvb-cut-300-jobs-reduce-number-channels-4?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Nov 2023 13:41:55 +0000 Japan Airlines and Thai Airways are shifting capacity away from mainland China where demand for travel is weak and putting additional resources into other markets such as Hong Kong and Europe, the carriers’ CEOs have said. At a meeting of top regional carriers in Singapore, Asian airline executives said travellers from the mainland had been slow to return to many countries, including Singapore, Japan and Thailand. “We cannot wait for China,” Thai Airways chief Chai Eamsiri said. “We have to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3241256/japan-airlines-pivots-hong-kong-market-thai-airways-explores-other-destinations-amid-sluggish-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3241256/japan-airlines-pivots-hong-kong-market-thai-airways-explores-other-destinations-amid-sluggish-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Nov 2023 12:00:18 +0000 Geopolitical tensions, economic concerns, high fuel prices and supply chain difficulties are among the biggest problems facing Asia-Pacific airlines such as Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways, industry executives and a global airline body have said at a Singapore summit. Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong told the meeting of top regional airline executives on Friday that he was encouraged by the rebound in demand, with international passenger capacity among Asia-Pacific carriers hitting... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3241132/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-chief-hears-singapore-regional-airline-summit-supply-chain-problems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3241132/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-chief-hears-singapore-regional-airline-summit-supply-chain-problems?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Nov 2023 12:58:42 +0000 Demand for travel from mainland China is crucial to restoring Singapore Airlines’ pre-pandemic passenger capacity, but it “may take a while” to recover, according to the carrier’s CEO. The Singapore Airlines Group, which includes budget arm Scoot, aims to restore passenger capacity in the coming financial year to levels last seen before the global Covid-19 health crisis decimated demand for travel, according to a first-half earnings report released this week. Speaking ahead of a meeting of top... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3240844/demand-mainland-china-crucial-restoring-singapore-airlines-flight-capacity-ceo-hong-kong-flag?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3240844/demand-mainland-china-crucial-restoring-singapore-airlines-flight-capacity-ceo-hong-kong-flag?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Nov 2023 07:01:15 +0000 Hong Kong’s tough Covid-19 pandemic travel restrictions were still in place when countries such as Singapore began shrugging off coronavirus curbs to reopen to the world in April last year. While Singapore Airlines and other carriers took off again, Cathay Pacific Airways languished, carrying only about 2 per cent of its pre-pandemic passenger capacity. “We were in a lonely spot,” Cathay’s chief customer and commercial officer, Lavinia Lau Hoi-zee, 53, told the Post. “We went through a really... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3240128/can-hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-reclaim-its-past-glory-premium-airline-its-trying-hard-fixing-staff?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3240128/can-hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-reclaim-its-past-glory-premium-airline-its-trying-hard-fixing-staff?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Nov 2023 00:30:08 +0000 Hong Kong travellers will have to accept higher air fares for the foreseeable future with ticket prices unlikely to fall to pre-pandemic levels as the industry’s costs have risen exponentially, a top Cathay Pacific Airways executive has said. Lavinia Lau Hoi-zee, 53, the chief customer and commercial officer at the city’s flag carrier, also told the Post the airline was “turning on all the taps” to recruit staff and was on track to hire 1,000 cabin crew in Hong Kong this year. Lau, who succeeded... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3239961/sky-high-air-fares-new-normal-hong-kong-and-rest-world-top-cathay-pacific-executive-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3239961/sky-high-air-fares-new-normal-hong-kong-and-rest-world-top-cathay-pacific-executive-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Nov 2023 02:30:21 +0000 Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways is betting on new first and business class cabins as it battles to win back its premium carrier status and regain passenger trust after a rough ride over the pandemic years. Lavinia Lau Hoi-zee, Cathay Pacific’s chief customer and commercial officer, told the Post that the carrier’s goal was to be the world’s top premium airline, despite fierce competition from rivals such as Singapore Airlines and Gulf carriers. Cathay chief: sky-high air fares new normal for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3240009/hong-kong-flag-carrier-cathay-pacific-banks-premium-services-battle-back-airline-top-flight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3240009/hong-kong-flag-carrier-cathay-pacific-banks-premium-services-battle-back-airline-top-flight?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Nov 2023 00:30:17 +0000 A three-day online sale of 100,000 HK Express air tickets at a starting price of HK$10 (US$1.28) got off to a bumpy start on Saturday with Hongkongers facing long queues and technical difficulties on the carrier’s website. The budget arm of Cathay Pacific Airways opened the sale on its website at noon, offering one-way fares to Fukuoka, Kaohsiung, Ningbo, Jeju and Phuket for travel between November 10 and June 30 next year. The initiative, which runs until Monday, was launched to mark the 10th... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3239524/bumpy-start-hk-express-ticket-sale-hong-kong-hopefuls-face-long-queues-website-issues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3239524/bumpy-start-hk-express-ticket-sale-hong-kong-hopefuls-face-long-queues-website-issues?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Oct 2023 07:37:52 +0000 Cathay Pacific Airways’ budget airline, HK Express, is offering 100,000 tickets starting at HK$10 (US$1) in a three-day sale from Saturday, with the low-cost carrier also saying its flight frequencies have now exceeded pre-pandemic levels. HK Express marked its 10th anniversary by announcing the three-day ticket sale, which runs until Monday, to 15 destinations. Ticket prices will start at HK$10 (US$1.28) but it is unclear if that excludes taxes and surcharges. The airline is offering flights at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3239435/cathay-pacifics-budget-airline-hk-express-offering-100000-tickets-starting-price-hk10-3-day-sale?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3239435/cathay-pacifics-budget-airline-hk-express-offering-100000-tickets-starting-price-hk10-3-day-sale?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Oct 2023 08:46:03 +0000 Twenty-seven cyclists were injured on Sunday in the first post-Covid Hong Kong Cyclothon, including 13 left bloodied in a single pile-up, prompting a sports association head to defend the course layout following criticism from some riders. The 13-rider pile-up occurred before noon during an eight-lap race open to both amateur and elite participants along Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui and the Hung Hom Bypass. During the second lap near the Empire Centre Shopping Arcade, a cyclist hit a traffic... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3238798/26-riders-injured-hong-kongs-cyclothon-4-seriously-after-participant-hits-traffic-cone-and-causes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3238798/26-riders-injured-hong-kongs-cyclothon-4-seriously-after-participant-hits-traffic-cone-and-causes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Oct 2023 09:20:22 +0000 A Hong Kong beekeeper has died two days after being stung while working at his apiary, the second such fatality in five months. The man, who was being treated at Tuen Mun Hospital, died at around 2pm on Saturday. A source familiar with the case said the deceased was 56-year-old beekeeper Tse Tai-hing. Police received a report at 4.40pm on Thursday from a woman whose husband had been stung while feeding bees. He had rung her earlier complaining of discomfort, but their call was disconnected. How... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3238796/hong-kong-beekeeper-dies-2-days-after-being-stung-while-working-his-apiary-second-such-case-5-months?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3238796/hong-kong-beekeeper-dies-2-days-after-being-stung-while-working-his-apiary-second-such-case-5-months?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Oct 2023 08:20:10 +0000 Europe’s largest airline, Lufthansa, will restore the number of flights to Hong Kong to pre-pandemic levels from the second quarter of next year, in another sign of the city’s path to recovery. But the German airline’s services to mainland China still lagged, hovering at 43 per cent of the level before Covid-19 struck in 2020. Frank Naeve, Lufthansa Group’s senior vice-president of global markets and stations, told the Post Hong Kong had long been an important market for both passengers and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3237988/lufthansa-rides-hong-kong-travel-recovery-and-will-restore-flights-pre-pandemic-levels-mainland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3237988/lufthansa-rides-hong-kong-travel-recovery-and-will-restore-flights-pre-pandemic-levels-mainland?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Oct 2023 11:07:02 +0000 Hong Kong’s “waterfront carnival” returned to form on Saturday night after a slow start the day before, with a steady stream of visitors flocking to the market to sample vendors’ street snacks and take in the sights. Stalls located along Wan Chai’s waterfront and offering snacks such as steamed pork and shrimp dumplings, satay skewers and hot dogs welcomed crowds of patrons two hours after they opened for business at 3pm. A local band also performed on stage from 7pm to set the mood. Vendors... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3237968/night-vibes-hong-kong-wan-chai-waterfront-carnival-draws-crowds-lack-english-signs-leave-some-hungry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3237968/night-vibes-hong-kong-wan-chai-waterfront-carnival-draws-crowds-lack-english-signs-leave-some-hungry?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Oct 2023 13:05:12 +0000 Hong Kong International Airport was ranked Asia-Pacific’s fourth-busiest for international passengers for the first eight months of this year, rising sharply from 30th spot last year when the city’s harsh Covid-19 travel restrictions were still in effect. But industry bodies warned that staffing shortages and supply chain issues remained in the way of the airport recovering fully and reclaiming the No 1 spot it held consistently before the pandemic. It handled 71.5 million passengers in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3237166/hong-kong-moves-list-asia-pacifics-busiest-airports-still-behind-singapore-changi-seoul-incheon-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3237166/hong-kong-moves-list-asia-pacifics-busiest-airports-still-behind-singapore-changi-seoul-incheon-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Oct 2023 00:00:13 +0000 Hong Kong’s Greater Bay Airlines will tap mainland China’s talent pool and take on nearly 10 pilots from an affiliated carrier while aiming to hire more than 100 staff next year to help with its expansion plans. But company chief executive Stanley Hui Hon-chung warned on Wednesday that Hong Kong needed to do more to recruit overseas pilots to keep the city’s flying community international. Hui said the carrier would leverage resources at Shenzhen-based Donghai Airlines, owned by GBA’s principal... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3236809/hong-kongs-greater-bay-airlines-aims-land-staff-mainland-china-tap-affiliated-carrier-ensure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3236809/hong-kongs-greater-bay-airlines-aims-land-staff-mainland-china-tap-affiliated-carrier-ensure?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Oct 2023 12:08:51 +0000