The new Hongkong Airlines daily flight service to Manila is addressing the increasing travel demand from the Philippines.
Launched in June, the HK-MLA direct service seats an estimated 2,500 travelers on the popular route.
According to official figures by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, visitor arrivals from the Philippines climbed to 894,489 in 2017 – a 13% growth from that in 2016.
As one of the most densely populated cities in the world, Manila is the business and commercial centre of the Philippines with key industries such as banking and finance, retail, transportation, tourism, and real estate. The capital city is also home to the largest seaport in the country, making it one of the prime shipping gateways to the Philippines.
Flight HX781 was welcomed by a traditional water cannon salute on arrival in Manila. The following day, a sending-off ceremony was held at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 before flight HX782 departed for Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Airlines Vice Chairman Tang King Shing said: “Travel between the Philippines and Hong Kong has steadily grown over the years. Filipinos represent the largest ethnic minority residing here in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Airlines aspires to become the airline of choice for Filipinos and travelers from around the world looking to travel between Hong Kong and Manila.”
Manila Airport Authority representative Paulo V. Seret said: “Manila welcomes business development opportunities, and we are very happy to have an internationally acclaimed carrier such as Hong Kong Airlines to be one of the service providers for the Hong Kong-Manila route. This will surely usher in much closer relations between the people of the Philippines and Hong Kong.”
The schedule for the new daily Hong Kong – Manila service can be seen below# (All times local).
| Flight Sector | Flight Number | Departure | Arrival | Frequency |
| HKG – MNL | HX781 | 2110 | 2300 | Tue, Fri, Sun |
| HX781 | 2130 | 2300 | Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat | |
| MNL – HKG | HX782 | 0655 | 0855 | Daily |
# Flight schedule is subject to change without prior notice.
The Hongkong-Manila direct flights via Airbus A320 is outfitted with a single-class configuration and offer 174 seats in Economy Class.
