Hong Kong Air Cargo (RH, Hong Kong International) has commenced a thrice-weekly roundtrip chartered freighter service between Hong Kong and Sydney Kingsford Smith using A330-200Fs. The inaugural flight, operated by B-LNV (msn 1175), departed late in the evening of December 8 for the eight-hour overnight flight to Sydney.
The airline said in a statement that the new service will allow customers to streamline cargo consignments from both the airline’s current route network and its Hong Kong hub to Australia.
"As the global market recovers from the pandemic, it is important for us to focus on what we do well and respond to our customers’ needs while ensuring that we strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an international cargo hub,” said Hong Kong Air Cargo’s director of government and public affairs, William Chan.
The flights to Sydney will depart Hong Kong at 2330L (1530Z) every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The return service to Hong Kong will leave Sydney at 1330L (0230Z) each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
According to the ch-aviation fleets and ch-aviation capacities modules, Hong Kong Air Cargo has a fleet of five A330-200Fs which also fly to Delhi International, Chennai, Tokyo Narita, Manila Ninoy Aquino International, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Dhaka, Hanoi Noi Bai International, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur International, Phnom Penh, Shanghai Pudong, Singapore Changi, Taipei Taoyuan, and Zhengzhou.
Australia and Hong Kong negotiated a free trade agreement in 2018. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the country's top exports to Hong Kong include gold, telecommunications equipment and parts, edible products and preparations, fruits and nuts, and meat. Hong Kong's top exports to Australia include gold, telecommunications equipment and parts, pearls and gems, jewellery, and edible products and preparations. Hong Kong also serves as a significant transit port for trade between Australia and mainland China.
