Hong Kong Airlines adjust onboard service standards, closes lounge

It seems each airline is adjusting its service standards as they try to adjust to the coronavirus. Hong Kong Airlines is taking action too.

And its some… rather interesting cuts.

Hong Kong Airlines Airbus A320 – Photo by G B_NZ / Used under CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)

The airline will be cutting and modfying its its on-board service standards:

• Duvets and Blankets will not be offered in any class of travel
• A Magazine Choice will not be provided – except for newspapers and in-seat reading materials
• Inflight catering service will be limited to a bottle of water for Business Class passengers and a cuplet of water for Economy Class passengers from 19 February 2020.

The move by the airline is

To further strengthen our precautionary measures and reduce the risk of our crew and customers from being potentially exposed to coronavirus, Hong Kong Airlines will be limiting inflight cabin activity and making temporary adjustments to our onboard services.  

Meanwhile, the airline has temporarily closed Club Autus at the Midfield Concourse of Hong Kong International Airport from 18 February 2020 until further notice. In the meantime, its Club Bauhinia located near Gate 23 in Terminal 1 will remain open to both its partner and airline passengers.

Reducing Expectations onboard the aircraft

Hong Kong Airlines is following Cathay Pacific who has closed three lounges at its Hong Kong Hub. With traffic a lot less that is desirable, it seems reducing risks and costs is on the agenda – especially reducing contact risks with passengers and its onboard teams.

Although if you’ve paid for a premium ticket, the only real advantage you’re getting is a bigger seat and a bottle of water (versus those in economy class who get a mere cuplet of water)

If Hong Kong Airlines is in your travel plans – if you get peckish when you travel, plan on eating in the terminal, in the lounge or bring your own snacks aboard.

Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond – Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, with in-depth coverage, unique research as well as the humour and madness as I only know how to deliver.

Follow me on Twitter at @EconomyBeyond for the latest updates! You can also follow me on Instagram too!

Also remember that as well as being part of BoardingArea, we’re also part of BoardingArea.eu, delivering frequent flyer news, miles and points to the European reader.