Air Hong Kong Becomes All Airbus A330F Freighter Operator

Cathay Group has announced that Air Hong Kong, together with their key customer DHL Express, has completed their seven year fleet renewal program with the arrival of a newer Airbus A330F Freighter, and the retirement of the last A300-600F Freighter.

Air Hong Kong Becomes All Airbus A330F Freighter Operator - Courtesy Cathay Group

On Friday (June 27, 2025), Cathay Group announced that Air Hong Kong, the first all-cargo airline based in Hong Kong, has become an all Airbus A330F Freighter Operator.  This milestone follows a seven year fleet renewal program and the arrival of the last, newer Airbus A330F Freighter, along with the retirement of the carrier’s final Airbus A300-600F Freighter.  Air Hong Kong began operating the A300-600F on behalf of DHL Express since 2004, and the aircraft has provided 21 years of safe and reliable service.  With the fleet renewal program completed, Air Hong Kong now operates an all A330F fleet of 14 aircraft, including 10 A330-300P2F (passenger to freighter converted aircraft), and four A330-200F Freighters.    

In Friday’s announcement, Air Hong Kong’s Chief Operating Officer, Clarence Tai, said,

“The A300-600F has been a stalwart of Air Hong Kong’s fleet and an important part of our story for over two decades.  Its contribution to not only our business, but to the Hong Kong international aviation hub as a whole, has been considerable and we fondly bid farewell to this valued member of our fleet as we enter this exciting new chapter.

“The new-generation A330F brings with it considerable benefits that will enable us to further enhance our operations and services for our customers, and continue to play an important role in the ongoing growth of Hong Kong’s air cargo sector.  I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department, the Cathay Group, our people, our suppliers and our key customer, DHL Express, for their firm support which has made this re-fleeting plan possible.”

Also commenting on the completion of the fleet renewal program, DHL Express’ SVP Network Operations & Aviation – Asia Pacific, Peter Bardens, said,

“Balancing our customers and operational needs has always been top of mind for us.  Our decision to re-fleet aircraft years ago reflects our foresight to invest in ourselves so that we are ever-ready to support our customers.  The A300-600F was instrumental to our robust aviation network for many years.  As we bid farewell to this valued member of our fleet, we are excited to welcome a new chapter with this new generation of freighters.  We are confident that we will continue to deliver excellence in both our service capabilities and sustainability targets.”

The newer Airbus A330F Freighter offers 25 percent more cargo capacity compared to the A300-600F it has replaced in Air Hong Kong’s fleet, and also offers a longer range of 6,430 nautical miles (7,400 km).  This has allowed Air Hong Kong to expand to new destinations, including Bahrain and Sydney.  The A330F also offers increased fuel efficiency and a smaller noise footprint compared to the aircraft it replaces.

Source: Cathay Group