With the changes in entry and quarantine in Mainland China, Cathay Pacific is responding by adding capacity, offering 61 return flights per week between Hong Kong and 13 Mainland cities
The move comes about as the Hong Kong SAR Government’s latest measures to facilitate quarantine-free travel between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, as well as the lifting of transit restrictions, effective 8 January 2023.
Cathay Pacific will more than double its flights into the Chinese Mainland, operating 61 return flights per week between Hong Kong and 13 Mainland cities from 14 January 2023. The airline is working towards increasing its activity to over 100 return flights per week by March 2023.
Highlights include Bejing going to 10 flights a week and Shanghai (Pudong) to 21 pairs per week, with service increases commencing from the 8th and 14th of January.
Planned frequency changes are below for Mainland China.
| City | From Hong Kong | To Hong Kong | From Hong Kong | To Hong Kong |
| Beijing | 3 | 7 | 10 | 10 |
| Chengdu | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 (from 14 Jan) |
| Chongqing | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuzhou | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Guangzhou | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
| Hangzhou | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Nanjing | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Qingdao | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Shanghai (Pudong) | 2 | 14 | 21 | 21 |
| Wuhan | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Xi’an | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Xiamen | 1 | 4 | 4 (from 14 Jan) | 4 |
| Zhengzhou | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 27 | 50 | 61 | 61 |
A slow rebuild
It’s been a long road for Cathay Pacific, who have had their ability to operate constrained due to local rules and laws, with the Hong Kong aviation hub’s prominence fading compared to previous years.
Cathay Pacific Group is aiming to restore 70% of pre-pandemic flight capacity by the end of 2023, with the airline aiming to return to full capacity by the end of 2024.
For Cathay Pacific, it is going to be a hill to climb, as other airlines have had a head-start on rebuilding their operations.
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