Mable Chan uses Qatar Airways cargo office opening to drop Central Asia route reveal

Qatar Airways has set up its new regional cargo office in Hong Kong, with the city’s transport minister using the occasion to reveal a local airline would soon announce the launch of direct flights to Central Asia.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan dropped the hint, but did not name the airline, while attending the opening ceremony for Qatar Airways’ regional cargo office and witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the carrier and the Airport Authority.

She said the local carrier would announce on Thursday that it was launching flights to Kazakhstan’s capital, Almaty, to expand Hong Kong’s flight network.

“Capitalising on the opportunities brought by the [three-runway system] and the country’s support for the “Air Silk Road”, the [Hong Kong government] will continue to forge closer ties in air services with global aviation partners, with priority focus on regions with further development potential and new growth areas, such as South America, Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East,” she said.

The South China Morning Post has learned that local flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways will be the airline behind the coming announcement.

Cathay Pacific earlier said it planned to launch the route in the first quarter of next year, which would consist of three flights a week by an Airbus A330-300 widebody aircraft.

Air Astana previously operated a direct service between Almaty and Hong Kong.