Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific to launch direct flights to Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh on October 28

The transport minister added that “there are still a lot of possibilities to pursue in our relationship”, pointing to “tourism, trade and many other areas”.

Cathay will operate three return flights per week between Hong Kong and Riyadh with its Airbus A350-900 aircraft across business, premium economy and economy classes.

Analysts had warned that Hong Kong and the airline – the only local carrier that can provide long-haul flights – were lagging behind mainland Chinese counterparts. Guangzhou already provides direct services to Kuwait and Riyadh, while China Southern Airlines launched non-stop flights from Shenzhen to the Saudi capital on June 3.

Lam said the government would strengthen aviation services on major existing routes as well as those along the Belt and Road Initiative, the nation’s trade strategy to connect more than 70 countries across Asia, Europe and Africa via a “New Silk Road” of railways, highways and ports.

Echoing the transport minister, Cathay CEO Ronald Lam Siu-por said the carrier would continue to develop flight services along its existing major routes as well as those connecting Hong Kong with belt and road countries and regions.

Hamad Aljebreen, Saudi Arabia’s consul general in Hong Kong, said the route was “a pivotal step” in the path to improving relations, and strengthening economic, tourism and cultural ties between the kingdom and the city.

Saudi Air Connectivity Programme CEO Majid Khan said he believed Cathay’s new flights would boost Hong Kong as a “key source market” to grow inbound tourism to Saudi Arabia, and help the kingdom towards achieving its goal of attracting 50 million visitors from China per year by 2030.

“Our biggest focus is definitely on China because there are great relations between the two countries,” he said, adding that there was also “huge potential” in tourism and trade, and that Cathay’s contribution as a premium carrier aligned with the kingdom’s strategy.