Today, HK Express launched its first nonstop flight between Hong Kong and Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport in Japan, the low-cost carrier’s tenth destination in Japan. Apart from its breathtaking and world-famous views of Mount Fuji, Shizuoka is home to the famous cartoon character Chibi Maruko-chan, a manga series that depicts the life of a young Japanese girl.
Photo: HK Express
Hong Kong’s most destinations in Japan
Today, HK Express announced the launch of Hong Kong’s first direct service to Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport in Japan. The new route is the carrier’s tenth destination in Japan, solidifying its unique advantage as the Hong Kong airline with the highest number of Japanese destinations.
Photo: EQRoy I Shutterstock
On December 17, HK Express flight UO894 departed Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) at 09:33 and, after a 3:10-hour flight, arrived at Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport (FSZ) at 13:43. The route was operated with a 2016 Airbus A320neo, registration B-LCL and MSN 07209 that departed Shizuoka at 15:11 and is expected to be on the ground in Hong Kong at 18:44.
This Airbus A320 operates regularly from Hong Kong to Penang (PEN), Taipei (TPE), Da Nang (DAN), Hanoi (HAN) and Busan (PUS). According to ch-aviation, HK Express has a fleet of 40 Airbus aircraft, including:
Six Airbus A320-200s
Ten Airbus A320neos (with eight on order)
13 Airbus A321-200s
11 Airbus A321neos (with 14 on order)
Photo: Yu Chun Christopher Wong | Shutterstock
HK Express CEO Jeanette Mao said that as Hong Kong’s only low-cost carrier, the airline is dedicated to providing affordable fares so that adventurous travelers can ‘Gotta Go’ to wherever their hearts desire, adding:
“Japan has always been a key market for us, and with the upcoming launch of Sendai next month, we will have a total of 11 destinations in Japan, further solidifying our status as the Hong Kong-based airline with the most Japanese destinations and nearly 170 round-trip flights per week.”
HK Express aided by China’s visa waiver program with Japan
HK Express, the low-cost airline of the Cathay Pacific Group, is another airline benefiting from the visa waiver program between China and Japan. This program allows Japanese tourists to stay in China for 30 days without obtaining a visa. The airline expects to see an influx of Japanese tourists visiting mainland China and to pick up onward traffic from Hong Kong into China.
Photo: Carlos Yudica | Shutterstock
With its numerous destinations in Japan, HK Express has a large catchment area of potential travelers on its Airbus A320 Family jets to Hong Kong and other cities in the Greater Bay Area. Travelers can also connect to the Cathay Pacific network in Hong Kong, and together, the two airlines can carry them to more than 20 destinations in mainland China, allowing them to explore the wonders of China fully.
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HK Express Takes Delivery Of Its 10th Airbus A321neo Aircraft
Interestingly, HK Express’ Airbus A320neos have the PW1100G engines, while all of its A321neos have the CFM International LEAP-1A engines.
Recruiting Chibi Maruko-chan and friends for the special day
To celebrate today’s inaugural flight, HK Express invited Shizuoka’s beloved character, Chibi Maruko-chan, to surprise passengers at Hong Kong International and to join them onboard the A320neo. At the airport, the airline’s management team distributed limited-edition souvenirs featuring Maruko-chan.
Maruko’s friends, Tama-chan and Hanawa-kun, are making an appearance at Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport to welcome the inaugural passengers and participate in a grand welcoming ceremony hosted by the prefectural government, celebrating the much-anticipated launch of the new route.
HK Express is one of the world’s most punctual and safest airlines. According to cirium, the airline ranked third globally and first in Asia for on-time arrival performance among low-cost carriers. It also received a ‘7-star safety rating’ from airline ratings.com, the highest rating the globally-recognized award offers.
AloJapan.com