Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific to launch direct flights to Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh on October 28

Transport minister Lam Sai-hung hails ‘significant milestone’ as agreement between carrier and Saudi Air Connectivity Programme is signed

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Lavinia Lau Hoi-zee, Cathay’s Chief Customer and Commercial Officer signs the agreement alongside Rashed Alshammari, vice president of Aviation Development for Saudi Arabia. Standing, from left to right, are Cathay CEO Ronald Lam, transport minister Lam Sai-hung, Saudi Air Connectivity Programme CEO Majid Khan and Consul-General of Saudi Arabia Hamad Aljebreen. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 9:10pm, 6 Jun 2024Updated: 1:27am, 7 Jun 2024

Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways will launch direct passenger flights to Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, on October 28 in a bid to further increase connectivity, trade and cultural exchanges between the city and countries taking part in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung called the aviation partnership between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia a “significant milestone” as an agreement between the carrier and the Saudi Air Connectivity Programme was signed on Thursday at a ceremony at The Peninsula hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui.

“Following Cathay Pacific’s initiative to commence services to Riyadh, we will be able to expand Hong Kong’s aviation network and enhance air connectivity between us and the Middle East, which further consolidates [our] status as an international aviation hub,” he said.

The transport minister added that “there are still a lot of possibilities to pursue in our relationship”, pointing to “tourism, trade and many other areas”.

Cathay will operate three return flights per week between Hong Kong and Riyadh with its Airbus A350-900 aircraft across business, premium economy and economy classes.

Analysts had warned that Hong Kong and the airline – the only local carrier that can provide long-haul flights – were lagging behind mainland Chinese counterparts. Guangzhou already provides direct services to Kuwait and Riyadh, while China Southern Airlines launched non-stop flights from Shenzhen to the Saudi capital on June 3.