Qantas is back in Hong Kong. After almost three years of absence in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the flying kangaroo will connect Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).

Initially operating three times per week, the carrier will increase the connection to a daily service from February 27th. Victorian's will join on March 26th, when Qantas will re-commence Melbourne Tullamarine International Airport (MEL) to Hong Kong. Both Sydney and Melbourne flights will be operated by the carriers Airbus A330.

Photo: Airbus

Schedule to Hong Kong

Departing from Sydney on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the airline will follow the below schedule:

• QF127, departing from Sydney Kingsford International Airport at 10:15, arriving at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) at 16:35.
• QF128, departing from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) at 18:20 and arriving at Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) at 06:40 the next day.

Source: Flightradar24.com

No Qantas lounge in Hong Kong

Qantas Club members returning to Hong Kong will notice something missing on their next visit. The airline closed its Qantas lounge at HKG in August 2021 as airlines hibernated through the depth of the pandemic.

Airline Chief Executive Alan Joyce considered its oneworld partner Cathay Pacific's range of lounges at its home airport, noting to Executive Traveller its decision to close the lounge was part of its COVID-19 recovery.

“(The airline) looked at everything that we needed in the individual market, and Cathay have some amazing lounges in Hong Kong, so we’ve worked with them to get access to their lounges, and of course, they have access to our lounges here, and we think that’s the best arrangement.”

Lounge access

Travelers may wonder which lounge they will now be welcome at. The airline advised Executive Traveller that business class travelers, along with Platinum- and Gold-grade frequent flyers, will gain access to the relevant Cathay Pacific lounges based on status, and Qantas Club members will be sent to the Plaza Premium Lounge.

Limited offerings on the Airbus A330

Passengers on QF127 on January 30 were whisked to Hong Kong by the airline's Airbus A330-300, an older aircraft with 18 years in service for Qantas, VH-QPF, completed the flight in just over eight and a half hours.

Photo: Qantas

The airline's Airbus A380 offers all four classes of service, which travelers were used to on the route before the pandemic. Currently, the Airbus A330 will provide only Business and economy class.

As noted by Aviancionline, the current aircraft scheduled on the route has a capacity of 297 seats across the two classes, with 28 business class seats and 260 down in economy.

Sources: Executive Traveller, Aviancionline