Cathay Pacific’s daily direct flights between Hong Kong and Changsha take off

With the fifth addition to its Chinese Mainland network this year, the Cathay Group now flies to 24 destinations in the Chinese Mainland, operating more than 330 return flights per week during the winter travel peak

November 5, 2025 -- Cathay Pacific today welcomed the launch of its non-stop passenger flights between Hong Kong and Changsha, further expanding the Cathay Group’s Chinese Mainland network to 24 destinations served by Cathay Pacific and low-cost carrier HK Express.

This new daily service provides customers from Hong Kong and across the globe with seamless access to the bustling capital of China’s Hunan Province, while those travelling from Changsha can conveniently connect to the Cathay Group’s global network of over 100 passenger destinations through its Hong Kong hub. ​

To mark the start of the new service, Cathay Pacific held a launch ceremony at Changsha Huanghua International Airport, hosted by Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau, Director Chinese Mainland Arnold Cheng, Director Service Delivery Mandy Ng, and attended by distinguished guests including Deputy Party Secretary and General Manager Cui Wusong, Party Committee Member Wang Qidong and Marketing Director Zhou Yun from Hunan Airport Management Group, among others. The inaugural flight CX968 was welcomed with a special water salute at Changsha Huanghua International Airport, marking a new chapter in the enhanced connectivity between Hunan and Hong Kong. 

Cathay’s Arnold Cheng said: “The launch of our Changsha route marks another important step in Cathay’s strategic expansion in the Chinese Mainland, underscoring our unique position of having deep roots in Hong Kong, being proudly part of China and connecting the world. This new service reinforces our role in enhancing connectivity between key cities across the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world, making travel between Hong Kong, Changsha and beyond more seamless for our customers, while showcasing the vibrancy and rich heritage of Hunan Province to travellers from around the globe.”

Hunan Airport Management Group Marketing Director Zhou Yun said: “Hong Kong is an important gateway between Hunan and the world. The direct flights between Changsha and Hong Kong not only make travelling between the two cities easier, but also foster economic, cultural and people-to-people exchanges between Hunan and Hong Kong. With the launch of the new route, travellers from Hunan can enjoy added convenience through seamless check-in and baggage through-check services to connect to over 100 destinations worldwide. At the same time, global travellers can conveniently transit via Hong Kong to reach Changsha. The new service also helps deepen cooperation between Hunan and Hong Kong, promote inbound tourism to Hunan and advance the opening-up of the province. The Airport Group will continue to work closely with all parties to ensure an efficient route operation, while using this as a new starting point to further expand its global network and contribute to Hunan’s development.”

Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong-Changsha service is operated using its state-of-the-art Airbus A321neo aircraft, featuring Business and Economy cabins. Customers can also enjoy the airline’s award-winning inflight entertainment experience during their journey. Flight schedules are as follows (all times local): 

Changsha marks the Cathay Group’s fifth new destination in the Chinese Mainland launched in 2025, alongside Urumqi operated by Cathay Pacific and Changzhou, Yiwu and Guiyang operated by HK Express. 

To cater to growing travel demand, Cathay Pacific has also increased flight frequencies on other key routes in the Chinese Mainland, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shanghai. The Cathay Group will operate more than 330 return flights per week between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland during the winter travel peak.

The Cathay Group is investing well over HK$100 billion to reinforce Hong Kong as an international aviation hub and elevate the customer experience, including an extensive redevelopment plan for its global lounges. Customers can enjoy an enhanced journey through Cathay Pacific’s newly redesigned flagship lounge at Beijing Capital International Airport, which reopened in August this year. Cathay Pacific also operates lounges at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the Shekou Cruise Home Port.

For more information, please visit www.cathaypacific.com. 

(Pic:Cathay Pacific celebrated the launch of its non-stop daily service to Changsha with a special ceremony, joined by Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam (eighth from left), Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau (seventh from right), Hunan Airport Management Group Deputy Party Secretary and General Manager Cui Wusong (eighth from right), Deputy Director and First-level Inspector of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Hunan Province Guo Xiangli (seventh from left), and Second-level Inspector of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Hunan Province Dai Xuefeng (sixth from right), among others)

(Pic:Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam (ninth from left), Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau (eighth from right), Director Chinese Mainland Arnold Cheng (eighth from left) and Director Service Delivery Mandy Ng (seventh from left) welcomed the arrival of the inaugural flight at Changsha Huanghua International Airport.)

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