Flights to Hong Kong increased, but frequency still third of number to rival Singapore

Major airlines such as Cathay Pacific Airways have scheduled 12% more flights to Hong Kong next month compared with July, but the frequency is still less than a third of rival Singapore. Airlines said Hong Kong's strict Covid-19 regulations for arriving aircraft crews remained a barrier to any increase in service. But experts said Singapore and Hong Kong had taken different approaches to reopening to air travel and the latter's more cautious approach could be a benefit in the long run. Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, said figures for about 40 carriers, including Cathay Pacific and Lufthansa, showed 926 flights to Hong Kong in June and 1,190 in July. The company said airlines had scheduled 1,335 flights for August and 1,331 flights in September. But flights scheduled for Singapore were more than three times the number of those destined for Hong Kong. Cirium said there were 4,215 flights in June rising to 4, 635 in July, 4,748 flights scheduled for August and 4,651 for September. Flights into Bangkok were almost double that of Hong Kong at 1,928 in June, 2,460 in July, with 2,581 scheduled for this month and 2,555 for September. "The major global airlines' schedules into Hong Kong remain speculative beyond October 2022," Cirium's Mike Arnott said. "This is in line with statements made by carriers like Cathay Pacific that adding flight capacity would be limited until flight crew restrictions are lifted."<br/>