By V. Sivaji
With Kota Kinabalu in Sabah targeted as their destination, HK Express Airlines is set for greater growth in the aviation industry.
Founded in 2013, HK Express Airways (HK Express) is the low-cost carrier subsidiary of Cathay Pacific Airways, and this year marks its 12-year anniversary—an achievement underscored by its Chief Commercial Officer, KK Ong.
Also present at the briefing session for the Penang media members was HK Express CEO Ms Jeanette Mao.
With an all Airbus fleet of 42 aircraft and more than 6 million passengers carried in 2024, HK Express has been named the world’s fastest-growing airline in its category.
Their fleet consists mainly of the A320-200, A321-200 and the A330-300 model aircrafts.
Their tagline, “Gotta Go”, states their focus on leisure travel and connectivity across Asia and the Greater Bay Area (which has a population of around 80 million). The airline also serves the nearby destinations of Zhuhai and Macau, tapping into the regional travel market.
HK Express currently serves 37 destinations (and counting). According to their destination list, key cities include: Chinese Mainland: Beijing; Changzhou; Guiyang; Ningbo; Sanya; Yiwu. Japan: Fukuoka; Hiroshima; Ishigaki; Komatsu; Miyako (Shimojishima); Nagoya; Okinawa; Osaka; Sendai; Shizuoka; Takamatsu; Tokyo (Narita and Haneda), alaysia: Penang; Kuala Lumpur (Subang); Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) – the latter launching 27 Nov 2025, Philippines: Manila; Clark. South Korea: Seoul; Busan; Jeju; Cheongju; Daegu. Taiwan (China): Taipei; Taichung; Kaohsiung; Hualien, Thailand: Bangkok; Chiang Mai; Phuket, Vietnam: Hanoi; Da Nang; Phu Quoc; Nha Trang.
In the past 12 months HK Express has opened 12 new destinations and is poised to continue that trend further.
The airline has positioned itself strongly in the Greater Bay Area travel ecosystem, leveraging proximity and cross-border traffic.
The forthcoming route to Kota Kinabalu signals the airline’s commitment to Malaysia and the broader Southeast Asia region. They also added another new flight to Penang making it two flights daily to the Penang International Airport recently.
This is following a MOU signed with Penang Global Tourism’s (PGT) to double their flights daily to Penang.
Also present at the signing ceremony was Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai and PGT Chief Executive Officer Ooi Chok Yan.
At 12 years old, HK Express is no longer an emerging carrier but a key player in the intra-Asia low-cost air travel space.
And with 42 aircraft, a rapidly‐expanding network across 37 destinations and a growth trajectory recognised internationally, HK Express is well placed to continue its momentum.
For travelers based in Hong Kong or the Greater Bay Area (GBA), the airline offers increasingly broad options—from Vietnam’s beach destinations to Japan’s regional cities, Korean hubs and Malaysia’s vibrant destinations.