Hong Kong Airlines to start Melbourne flights

Hong Kong Airlines will launch Melbourne-Hong Kong flights in December, although at the cost of cutting back on its daily Sydney-Hong Kong service.

The Melbourne move will put pressure on incumbents Qantas and Cathay Pacific, and see the first threat on the long-standing duopoly route since Virgin Australia briefly flew between the two cities from 2018 to 2020 as part of an ill-fated push into Asia.

It’s expected there will be three Melbourne-Hong Kong flights per week from mid-December 2025 to late March 2026:

• HX13 will depart Hong Kong at 11:10pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 12 December to  27 March, reaching Melbourne at 11:30am the following day
• HX14 is wheels-up from Melbourne at 1pm every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, from 13 December to 28 March, arriving into Hong Kong at 7:20pm

Hong Kong Airlines wants to begin direct flights to Melbourne.

And in a win for Virgin Australia loyalists, Hong Kong Airlines is a Velocity partner.

A one-way journey on Hong Kong Airlines’ current Sydney-Hong Kong service is priced at 32,500 Velocity Points in economy and 75,000 Velocity Points in business.

Velocity Gold and Platinum members travelling on Hong Kong Airlines also enjoy some status benefits such as a higher baggage allowance, priority check-in and priority boarding, although lounge access remains out of the mix.

“This new service will not only provide passengers a competitive and high-quality travel option but will also cater to the diverse needs of business and leisure travellers, further deepening the trade, cultural, and tourism ties between Hong Kong and Melbourne,” says Hong Kong Airlines President Jeff Sun.

The Hong Kong Airlines flights will be on an Airbus A330, although the seating can be a mixed bag – when Executive Traveller flew between Sydney and Hong Kong recently, the SYD-HKG leg had an older business class product while the return HKG-SYD leg boasted a more modern offering.

One of the older business class cabins on Hong Kong Airlines' Airbus A330s.

However, as noted in our review, “The seat is dated but the price is right, especially when business class can be 50% cheaper than rival airlines.”

“On paper, it sounds promising: there are lie-flat beds in business class, a full in-flight service including two meals and snacks, and the convenience of a daily flight schedule.”

“A lot of the shine comes off when you step on board Hong Kong Airlines’ Airbus A330, with its seriously dated seats and lack of inflight connectivity.”

“But with business class fares which can be anywhere from 20-50% cheaper than its rivals, the scales tilt in favour of value on this medium-haul route.”

Review: Hong Kong Airlines A330 business class (Sydney to Hong Kong)

Some Hong Kong Airlines' A330s feature this more modern business class.

As for Sydney, Hong Kong Airlines plans to reduce that route from daily to four flights per week as of 26 October 2025, with flights from Hong Kong operating on ‘non-Melbourne’ days.