Cathay Pacific to launch direct flights between Hong Kong and Almaty in January

Cathay Pacific Airways is set to introduce direct passenger flights from Hong Kong to Almaty, Kazakhstan, in January, marking the airline's inaugural service to Central Asia. The three-times-weekly flight schedule will commence on January 9, 2023, with Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays designated for operations, pending regulatory clearance.

Passengers onboard the Airbus A330-300 will enjoy a six to seven-hour journey each way, a significant reduction from the typical 10 to 14-hour travel time, thanks to the direct route. The outbound flight departs Hong Kong at 4:25pm, touching down in Almaty at 8:30pm local time, while the return journey commences at 9:50pm, arriving in Hong Kong at 7am the following day.

These flights are now available for booking on Cathay's website, with one-way fares ranging from HK$2,296 in economy class to HK$14,476 in business class. Cathay Pacific views Almaty, the commercial and cultural hub of Kazakhstan, as a strategic gateway to Central Asia, enhancing trade, business, and tourism prospects. The airline emphasizes that this addition to their network underscores their dedication to bolstering Hong Kong's role as a premier international aviation hub, further strengthening connectivity with key markets along the Belt and Road Initiative.

This move comes in the wake of a trade delegation led by Hong Kong's Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in June, aimed at fostering additional bilateral business opportunities.