April 26, 2025, Cathay Pacific celebrates the upcoming launch of a new route between Hong Kong and Urumqi. The celebration yesterday featured a cocktail reception at the Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong.
Flights Between Hong Kong and Urumqi
Hosted by Ronald Lam, Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer, the event was composed of distinguished guests such as Mable Chan, the Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the Hong Kong SAR Government and included other industry stakeholders.
The launch of the new route is expected to take place on April 28, 2025. The route further expands Cathay Group’s network into the Chinese Mainland to 20 destinations. The new service connects Cathay Group’s customers from Hong Kong and beyond with an important Belt and Road hub in Northwestern China. This service will boost Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub. During the event, Mable Chan, the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, said:
In May of last year, the Central Government expanded the multiple-entry Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) by adding eight new cities, including Urumqi. The launch of this new direct flight today reflects our commitment to fulfilling the Central Government’s support and expectations for Hong Kong.
Urumqi plays an important role as a conduit. Beyond passenger services, we hope Cathay will help elevate the entire air cargo industry by leveraging this new gateway to establish a new cargo corridor. This will enable air freight from various global destinations to be transported through Hong Kong International Airport and distributed to different cities across the Chinese Mainland.
With its proximity to Central Asia, Urumqi not only strengthens Hong Kong’s connectivity with the Chinese Mainland but also serves as a bridge to other continents, extending our reach to key destinations along the Belt and Road Initiative.
Flight Schedule
Flights between Hong Kong and Urumqi will be operated by the Airbus A330-300. The Airbus A330-300 aircraft will provide customers with comfortable Business and Economy cabins. Flights from Hong Kong to Urumqi will depart at 1:30 am and arrive at 7:00 am, operating from Monday to Sunday. Flights from Urumqi to Hong Kong will depart at 10:15 am and arrive at 15:20 pm, operating from Monday to Sunday. Ronald Lam said:
With its vibrant blend of cultural experiences and stunning landscapes, Urumqi is the latest addition to our expanding Chinese Mainland network. We are excited to welcome customers onboard our flights to explore the unique offerings of Xinjiang’s capital.
With services to Changzhou and Yiwu also being launched by HK Express in May, the Cathay Group will operate passenger services to a total of 22 destinations in the Chinese Mainland, providing more than 300 return flights per week during the summer peak. We remain committed to enhancing connectivity between Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and beyond by introducing more destinations and flight choices for our customers.
Cathay Pacific is also expanding its global network, with 15 new destinations including Hyderabad, Dallas, Urumqi, Rome, Munich, Brussels, Sendai, Nha Trang, Ishigaki, Komatsu, Changzhou, Yiwu, Cheongju, Daegu and Miyako.
What are your thoughts on the new route and the passenger service provided by Cathay Pacific? Leave your comments below.
