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Cathay Pacific is resuming non-stop services from Hong Kong to Adelaide later this year.
The Hong Kong-based carrier is the last to bring back its pre-COVID Adelaide route, which ended in March 2020. It will operate a seasonal service starting 11 November, flying three times per week on its 280-seat A350-900 fleet until 27 March next year.
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The Adelaide route will restore all of Cathay Pacific’s pre-pandemic Australian destinations, with close to 90 return flights per week into eight cities.
“We’re excited to welcome Cathay Pacific back to Adelaide. The airline first started flying to Adelaide in 1992 and it has been one of our more enduring international partnerships for many years,” said Adelaide Airport managing director Brenton Cox.
“South Australians will again be part of their extensive global network with a non-stop service to Hong Kong and excellent connections to Asian and European destinations.
“We also anticipate solid inbound passenger numbers on the back of our growing tourism market and strong international education opportunities.”
According to the South Australian Government, the reinstated route is estimated to generate $32 million for South Australia each year, including $17 million in tourist revenue and $15 million in freight exports.
“The return of this route will provide long-term economic benefits for our state, including through an increase in high-value exports by plane to Hong Kong, which in the last 12 months exceeded $260 million,” said state trade minister Joe Szakacs.
“It will give local export businesses greater opportunities to sell more of our worldclass products to a growing consumer class in the world’s most dynamic region.
“Wine, seafood, and hi-tech exports have long been in high-demand by Hong Kong consumers – the return of Cathay Pacific flights will make it even easier to do business with one of the world’s great trading cities.”
The news comes soon after Qantas’ announcement of its restoration of international services with four 737-800 flights per week to Auckland from 31 October 2025 to 3 May 2026, marking the first time it has flown internationally from the South Australian capital since 2013.
United Airlines is also set to commence non-stop services to San Francisco in December, the first ever direct flights from Adelaide to the US.
