Themed Cabin Interiors and Limited Souvenirs Debut on Chengdu Flight: Giant Pandas Become Tourism Ambassadors Soaring the Skies
HONG KONGJune 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Since its striking fuselage livery debuted in mid-March this year, Hong Kong Airlines’ Panda Friends-themed aircraft, created in collaboration with Ocean Park, has been widely adored by travelers. It carries Hong Kong’s compelling stories and conservation philosophy, promoting the city’s tourism appeal worldwide. To further enhance the passenger experience, Hong Kong Airlines has unveiled a new series of Panda Friends-themed cabin interiors and merchandise, making their debut on a flight to Chengdu, the hometown of giant pandas, on June 24. This allows the six Hong Kong giant pandas to accompany passengers soaring through the skies in a more vivid and lifelike manner.
(Second from left to second from right) Mr. Wong Tsai-fai, Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Park Corporation; Mr. Paul Pang, Chairman of Ocean Park Corporation; Mr. Liu Chun, Deputy Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; Ms. Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Liao Chun-sun, Deputy Secretary for Transport and Logistics; Ms. Vivian Cheung, Chief Executive Officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong; Mr. Wang Xiaodong, Chairman of Hong Kong Airlines; and Mr. Sun Jianfeng, President of Hong Kong Airlines, jointly hosted the preview event for the Panda Friends-themed aircraft flight
Hong Kong Airlines and Ocean Park specially invited several distinguished guests to experience the preview event for the Panda Friends-themed aircraft flight, including Ms. Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Liu Chun, Deputy Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Liao Chun-sun, Deputy Secretary for Transport and Logistics; Ms. Vivian Cheung, Chief Executive Officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong; as well as Mr. Wang Xiaodong, Chairman of Hong Kong Airlines; Mr. Sun Jianfeng, President of Hong Kong Airlines; Mr. Paul Pang, Chairman of Ocean Park Corporation; and Mr. Wong Tsai-fai, Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Park Corporation, among others, collectively witnessing this significant event.
The fuselage design of the Panda Friends-themed aircraft ingeniously incorporates Ocean Park’s beloved IP characters, including An An, Ke Ke, Ying Ying, Le Le, and the Hong Kong-born giant panda twins—sister Ga Ga and brother De De. In the design, the six giant pandas, equipped with passports and cameras, set off from Ocean Park, transforming into tourism ambassadors to travel the world alongside passengers on board.
Ms. Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated: “The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau has been leading Ocean Park, collaborating with various sectors of society to leverage creativity, capitalize on Hong Kong’s advantage as the place outside the Chinese mainland with the largest number of giant pandas, and launch more panda-themed activities and products. The Panda Friends-themed aircraft is a successful example, with Hong Kong’s giant panda family serving as tourism ambassadors to showcase Hong Kong’s unique charm to the world, attract tourists from around the globe to visit Hong Kong, and drive tourism development.“
Mr. Liao Chun-sun, Deputy Secretary for Transport and Logistics, stated: “Hong Kong Airlines has always been committed to contributing to the development of Hong Kong’s aviation industry and continuously innovates to attract travelers, pursuing breakthroughs. This collaboration with Ocean Park perfectly integrates beloved local cultural and tourism features into the entire journey, from check-in and lounge experience to cabin interiors, injecting new vitality into aviation services and significantly enhancing its unique appeal to global travelers. This themed aircraft, departing for the hometown of giant pandas—Chengdu, vividly demonstrates the close connection between Hong Kong International Airport and national regional gateway hubs. Hong Kong Airlines’ recent move to the new, youthful, and vibrant Terminal 2, combined with this innovative cross-sector collaboration, not only upgrades the travel experience for passengers but also injects new momentum into consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub.“
Mr. Wang Xiaodong, Chairman of Hong Kong Airlines, stated: “Pandas symbolize affinity, connection, and cultural exchange, and Hong Kong has always been a city where Chinese and foreign cultures converge. This unique panda-themed aircraft is precisely a business card of ‘Hong Kong in the Sky,‘ signifying that Hong Kong Airlines, beyond its core function of passenger and cargo transport, transforms into a bridge for conveying Hong Kong’s culture and urban values, showcasing the brand’s unique affinity and vitality.“
He added: “To upgrade this experience, we meticulously planned every passenger touchpoint detail, from a boarding pass to a headrest cover, from the cabin ceiling to the paper cup in hand, allowing the six Hong Kong giant pandas to become the warmest travel companions, creating a multi-sensory journey of ‘seeing, touching, and feeling‘ that begins from the moment of boarding. As the aircraft successively flies to various destinations, these adorable ‘airborne tourism ambassadors‘ will cross borders, starting from Hong Kong, conveying the city’s charm and conservation stories to every tourist hotspot; while reminding travelers to protect the ecology and precious national treasures during their trips—this is how we fulfill our mission of connecting the world in a way that tells Hong Kong’s story more distinctively.“
Mr. Paul Pang, Chairman of Ocean Park Corporation, stated: “We are delighted to announce that this cross-sector collaboration has now fully taken flight. The charm of Panda Friends extends from the fuselage into the cabin interior, creating an immersive giant panda soaring experience for passengers through meticulously designed cabin arrangements, limited-edition themed dining options, and exquisite peripheral merchandise. This collaboration not only puts Ocean Park’s conservation mission into practice above the clouds but also transforms the six immensely popular giant pandas into international tourism ambassadors, showcasing the unique charm of Hong Kong’s giant pandas to travelers worldwide and inspiring everyone to support giant panda conservation efforts.“
Both parties expressed gratitude for the strong support from the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Airport Authority Hong Kong for the event. They hope to leverage the global appeal of giant pandas to raise international awareness of panda conservation, attract more families and young travelers to visit Hong Kong, choose Hong Kong Airlines to experience the panda-themed aircraft firsthand, and embark on a conservation exploration journey at Ocean Park, deeply experiencing Hong Kong’s diverse culture and natural beauty.
All-Around Immersive Experience: A Giant Panda Journey Beginning from the Moment of Boarding
Giant Panda Themed Cabin Interiors: Every Detail is a Surprise.
Panda Friends Themed Flight Playful Boarding Pass
Playful Boarding Pass: The first touch of ritual for the journey—a boarding pass printed with the playful poses of the six giant pandas, instantly melting the hearts of passengers young and old, transforming into the most memorable “ticket“ for travelers.
Panda Friends Themed Flight Cabin Interior
Look Up and Meet the Pandas: Gazing upward, the cabin ceiling and overhead bin exteriors are adorned with lively depictions of An An, Ke Ke, Ying Ying, Le Le, Ga Ga, and De De, making passengers feel as if they are in a “Giant Panda Paradise in the Sky,“ with every frame a photo-worthy spot.
Heartwarming Headrest Hug: The seatback headrest covers are embellished with panda-themed patterns, soft and snug, allowing passengers to feel a therapeutic sense of security akin to a panda hug at 30,000 feet.
Panda Friends Themed Flight Meal Cart and Cups
Surprise Dining Moments: The onboard meal carts are adorned with exclusive Panda Friends livery, with the six giant pandas accompanying the carts as they traverse the cabin aisles, transforming into the cutest meal delivery assistants and turning dining time into a mobile parade of surprises. The paper cups used also hide thoughtful details—dining supplies printed with panda illustrations bring a smile with every sip, turning ordinary meal moments into fun interactions.
Hong Kong Airlines’ Panda Friends showcase extends beyond the cabin. The exclusive lounge “Club Autus“ at Hong Kong International Airport also features a specially crafted panda-themed media installation for travelers—ingeniously blending themes and videos, allowing passengers to review footage of giant pandas from Ocean Park on screens during their rest, savoring the profound significance of panda conservation while relaxing.
Limited Edition Collectible Souvenirs: Take the Warmth of Hong Kong Home
Hong Kong Airlines has also meticulously curated a series of Panda Friends collectible souvenirs, co-created by the design team and Ocean Park. From materials and craftsmanship to packaging, each item is uniquely crafted with heartfelt sincerity. These include 1:400 / 1:200 limited edition alloy aircraft models, Panda Friends crew surprise blind box figurines, Panda Friends Ga Ga and De De sweet dream eye masks, Panda Friends pilot x flight attendant luggage tags, and Panda Friends aviation fabric keychains.
Available for pre-order from June 24 on HKA Collection (https://hkairlinescollection.com/zh), while stocks last.
HKA Collection Collectible Souvenirs
Each souvenir is more than just a product; it is an “extension of Hong Kong memories“—when travelers return home and see the aircraft model on their desk or the keychain on their backpack, they will once again recall that warm journey flying with the pandas and the unique sentiment of the city of Hong Kong.
Rooted in Hong Kong for Two Decades, Connecting the World, Playing a Vital Role
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong Airlines, signifying an important milestone in the brand’s development. Since its establishment in 2006, Hong Kong Airlines has grown alongside the city of Hong Kong, witnessing and participating in the consolidation and elevation of Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub. This year, Hong Kong Airlines is actively driving multiple developments, including moving into Terminal 2 (T2) of Hong Kong International Airport to comprehensively enhance ground service efficiency and passenger experience; simultaneously refreshing its corporate visual identity (VI) with a more modern and dynamic new image, echoing the brand’s continuous forward momentum.
The launch of the Panda Friends-themed aircraft is a particularly significant chapter in Hong Kong Airlines’ 20th-anniversary series of developments. From fleet and route network expansion to brand image upgrade, Hong Kong Airlines has always adhered to its core mission of “Rooted in Hong Kong, Connecting the World,“ conveying the unique charm, cultural heritage, and conservation stories of the city of Hong Kong to travelers worldwide through every flight. Looking ahead, Hong Kong Airlines will continue to advance with innovative thinking and local sentiment, collaborating with partners from all sectors to make more profound contributions to consolidating Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub and promoting the development of local tourism and cultural soft power.
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