Starting in mid-2017, Virgin Australia will begin operating direct flights to Hong Kong (HKG) following the announcement of a proposed alliance with HNA Aviation. The carrier has applied to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for approval of the partnership.
The agreement will introduce codeshare services and direct connections between Hong Kong and Australia, and expand links between mainland China and Australia. Until now, many services between Australia and Hong Kong or mainland China have routed passengers via Singapore with Singapore Airlines.
“This new alliance will be a game changer for travel between Australia and China, providing significantly more competition and choice for travelers,” said John Borghetti, chief executive officer of Virgin Australia Group. “The alliance will accelerate and support our access to the Chinese market, which is Australia’s fastest growing and most valuable inbound travel market. HNA Aviation flies nearly 100 million passengers each year and we look forward to working collaboratively with them to drive inbound visitation to Australia, resulting in significant benefits for the Australian tourism industry and broader economy.”
Direct Hong Kong services will be operated with Airbus A330 aircraft featuring business-class cabins. Passengers on Beijing Capital Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines and Tianjin Airlines will be able to connect seamlessly to Virgin Australia’s domestic network and trans-Tasman flights, improving onward connections and travel flexibility.
Beyond new routes and codeshare arrangements, the alliance will extend frequent-flyer benefits across participating airlines. Members of Virgin Australia’s and the HNA group carriers’ loyalty programs will be able to earn miles on alliance routes and enjoy reciprocal privileges such as lounge access, priority check-in and boarding, and additional baggage allowances.
The partnership aims to increase competition on key Asia–Australia routes, offer travelers more direct options and simplify connections between Australia, Hong Kong and mainland China. If regulatory approval is granted, the alliance could bring expanded schedules, better connectivity and enhanced loyalty benefits for passengers across the participating carriers.