Hong KongApril 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As the 2026 “May Day” holiday, combined with spring breaks in some regions, creates a 7-to-10-day “super holiday,” the outbound tourism market continues to heat up. In multiple platforms’ rankings of preferred outbound destinations for Chinese tourists during the “May Day” holiday, Hong Kong ranks among the top popular destinations, serving as a transit hub for a large number of outbound travelers.
In response to the sustained surge in travel demand, Hong Kong Airlines is leveraging its transit network centered on Hong Kong International Airport. Through initiatives such as transit lounge benefits, annual pass products, and promoting the convenience of Hong Kong’s e-Channel clearance, the airline offers mainland travelers a seamless end-to-end experience from home to destination.
Expanding Route Network and Optimizing Schedules to Strengthen “Hard Connectivity”
Industry trends indicate that the upcoming “May Day” outbound tourism market will feature a mix of short-haul and long-haul travel.
Data shows that long-haul destinations such as Canada and Italy remain popular, while short-haul destinations like the five Central Asian countries, Mongolia, and South Korea are also in high demand.
Meanwhile, reports from online travel platforms reveal that for this “May Day” holiday, destinations such as Uzbekistan, Austria, Brazil, Nepal, and Italy are seeing the fastest growth, with bookings for related travel products increasing by over 100% year-on-year.
The overall shift in outbound tourism toward long-haul destinations further highlights Hong Kong’s value as an international aviation hub. Whether travelers fly via Hong Kong to popular Asian destinations like Bangkok, Seoul, or Bali, or to far-flung international cities like Sydney, Melbourne, or Vancouver, Hong Kong Airlines provides efficient transit connections.
Since announcing its transition from a regional to an international airline in 2025, Hong Kong Airlines has expanded its route network, launching new intercontinental routes to Sydney, Melbourne, and Vancouver, marking its return to the long-haul international market.
To further solidify Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub, Hong Kong Airlines has carefully scheduled many of its routes to optimize transit convenience, offering passengers a wide range of connection options and significantly reducing transit times.
From mainland cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Sanya, passengers can connect on the same day via Hong Kong Airlines’ international flights to major global cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Vancouver, or easily reach popular tourist destinations like Bali and Hanoi.
For frequent travelers shuttling between the mainland, Hong Kong, and popular Asian cities, Hong Kong Airlines offers the Airpass annual pass. This product covers multiple routes from the mainland to Hong Kong, including Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Nanjing, as well as routes from Hong Kong to overseas destinations such as Bangkok, Seoul, and Bali, providing travelers with diverse travel options.
The annual pass is available in two types: a 3-round-trip package and a 5-round-trip package. The 5-round-trip package can be shared by two designated passengers. This product can be booked through the Hong Kong Airlines official website and is valid for one year from the order confirmation date. Travelers can lock in their travel plans for the year at fixed discounted fares, helping to reduce costs for high-frequency travelers.
The Hong Kong Airlines annual pass is suitable for various long-term travel scenarios, including business commuting, visiting friends and family, and leisure travel, offering a cost-effective, flexible, and convenient travel solution for passengers with frequent往返 needs.
Additionally, the Hong Kong Immigration Department relaxed the eligibility criteria for frequent visitors to register for automated immigration clearance (e-Channel) services earlier this year, further reducing clearance times for mainland travelers at Hong Kong Airport and providing a smoother travel experience for those transiting through Hong Kong.
Under the new arrangement, holders of ordinary People’s Republic of China passports who are aged 7 or above (with a height of at least 1.1 meters) and are transiting through Hong Kong to another country or region can use the e-Channel service at all Hong Kong immigration control points without prior registration.
Travelers holding electronic Exit-Entry Permits for港澳 Travel, who are aged 7 or above (with a height of at least 1.1 meters) and have signed a consent form with the mainland issuing authority when applying for the electronic permit, authorizing the Hong Kong Immigration Department to use the fingerprint template stored on the permit’s chip for identity verification, can also use the e-Channel service without registration.
Furthermore, travelers holding valid travel documents and multiple-entry visas who have visited Hong Kong via Hong Kong International Airport at least twice in the past 24 months and meet relevant conditions can register for the e-Channel service free of charge. Once registered, they can use the e-Channel for automated immigration clearance at all Hong Kong immigration control points.
Under the new policy, the registration process for the e-Channel has also been simplified. Eligible travelers with valid electronic travel documents only need to present their documents, have their photo taken, and sign a consent form at designated registration points, without the need for fingerprint collection.
Distinctive “Hong Kong-Style Service” to Create a “Soft Connectivity” Experience
To enhance the transit experience for passengers, Hong Kong Airlines is continuously optimizing its transit support services.
As a full-service airline based in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Airlines’ route network extensively covers over 30 major cities in the Asia-Pacific and North America regions, with interline and codeshare agreements with multiple airlines and ferry service providers.
Under the previously launched “Transit Special Benefits,” extended until December 31, 2026, economy class passengers on designated flights* traveling with Hong Kong Airlines between Hong Kong and Vancouver, Sydney, or Melbourne, and transiting at Hong Kong International Airport with a transit time of 5 to 24 hours, can enjoy complimentary access to the Club Autus lounge located in the Midfield Concourse. Before using the lounge, passengers must present valid boarding passes for both their arrival and connecting departure flights.
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The lounge’s design blends modernity with Eastern aesthetics, offering not only a comfortable resting environment but also amenities such as massage chairs, ensuring passengers can enjoy a relaxing and high-quality experience before their flights.
Additionally, the Club Autus lounge’s dining services include a buffet area with a variety of exquisite snacks, as well as a dedicated restaurant zone that continuously serves freshly made cart noodles and Hong Kong-style delicacies like egg tarts, turning transit waiting time into an enjoyable part of the journey.
Transit passengers in Hong Kong can also take advantage of the free transit tours recently launched by Hong Kong International Airport. Passengers with a layover of at least 7 hours in Hong Kong can join complimentary city tours, including the “Nostalgic Footprints • Old Hong Kong Half-Day Tour,” exploring Hong Kong’s old districts where East meets West and capturing historical traces, as well as the “Victoria Harbour Charm • Victoria Harbour Art Night Tour.”
Notably, Hong Kong Airlines will move to the new Terminal 2 (T2) on May 27, 2026, becoming the first airline to operate from T2.
According to an announcement by the Airport Authority Hong Kong, the passenger departure facilities at T2 will officially commence operations on May 27. The Airport Authority has made thorough preparations to ensure the smooth operation of Terminal 2.
As the first among 15 airlines to complete the phased relocation, Hong Kong Airlines will begin handling passenger check-in at T2 from that date, offering more spacious facilities and advanced technology to provide smoother and more convenient services for transit passengers through Hong Kong.
“Giant Panda” Livery Builds a Bridge of “Heart Connectivity”
In terms of travel experience, on March 14, 2026, Hong Kong Airlines, in collaboration with Ocean Park Hong Kong, officially launched its first giant panda-themed livery aircraft, with its maiden flight to Chengdu, the hometown of pandas. This marks the first special livery in Hong Kong Airlines’ 20-year history based in Hong Kong. Moreover, this aircraft also kicks off a series of brand renewal initiatives, paving the way for more aircraft to be painted throughout the year, fully presenting the new brand visual identity.
The giant panda livery features six adorable pandas on the fuselage, including “An An,” “Ke Ke,” “Ying Ying,” “Le Le,” and the locally born twin pandas in Hong Kong, sister “Jia Jia” and brother “De De.”
This livery aircraft, blending Hong Kong’s local conservation理念 with Chinese cultural symbols, vividly echoes the cultural ties between Hong Kong and the mainland, building a mobile cultural communication bridge at 30,000 feet through highly impactful visual elements.
Rooted in Hong Kong, backed by the motherland, and connected to the world—this is Hong Kong Airlines’ geographical advantage and its fundamental commitment to continuously building a global travel network linking Hong Kong, the mainland, and beyond.
As the 2026 “May Day” holiday approaches, Hong Kong Airlines will continue to uphold its philosophy of “Setting Off with Heart, Serving with Full Dedication,” leveraging its comprehensive transit advantages to provide travelers from around the world with more convenient, comfortable, and value-for-money travel solutions.
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