Hong Kong Airlines celebrated their inaugural flight to Kumamoto, Japan on Saturday, December 2, 2023. The route will now operate three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
On Saturday (December 2, 2023), Hong Kong Airlines announced the launch of inaugural service between Hong Kong and Kamamoto, Japan, further extending the carrier’s network to the Kyushu region. The route to Kumamoto is the airline’s seventh destination in Japan and flights will operate three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Celebrating the launch of service, Kumamoto Prefecture sent their iconic mascot, Kumamon, to Hong Kong on November 30th. Kumamon visited the HKA training Academy to play games with team members, and later appeared at the central Harbourfront to mingle with the public, while promoting tourism in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Prior to departure on Saturday, a special ceremony was held at the boarding gate at Hong Kong International Airport, which was attended by Hong King Airlines’ senior management team, the Chief Director of Kumamoto Prefectural Government Hong Kong Representative Office, and representatives from the Airport Authority Hong Kong. Together with Kumamon, they interacted with passengers on the first flight and gave out bespoke gift sets. When the aircraft touched down at Aso Kumamoto Airport, it was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute.
Hong Kong Airlines Celebrates the Launch of Inaugural Service Between Hong Kong and Kamamoto, Japan - Courtesy Hong Kong Airlines
Speaking at the arrival ceremony in Kumamoto, Hong Kong Airlines’ Chairman, Mr. Jevey Zhang, said,
“We are very excited to reintegrate this popular destination into our expanding Japanese route network after so many years. Kumamoto is our second new destination in the Kyushu region, which complements our existing daily return flights to Fukuoka, connecting the northern and central parts of Kyushu and providing passengers with more diverse travel options. We also look forward to strengthening cooperation with Kumamoto, prefecture governments across Japan, various airport authorities, and business partners to launch flights to more Japanese destinations.”
Also commenting at the arrival ceremony, Kumamoto Airport’s President, Mr. Yamakawa, added,
“We are pleased to resume flights to Hong Kong after the last earthquake disaster. We believe that this will not only serve more passengers departing from Kumamoto, but also increase the volume of international freight traffic and boost the local economic development between Kumamoto and Hong Kong. We will continue to tighten up our mutual collaboration and provide support to attract more visitors and further deepen exchanges between the two places.”
With the new service to Kumamoto and existing daily service to Fukuoka, Hong Kong Airlines is now operating 10 weekly flights to the Kyushu region of Japan. The flights have been optimally timed for seamless onward connectivity.
Source: Hong Kong Airlines