HONG KONG- Melbourne welcomed a new long-haul international connection as Hong Kong Airlines (HX) officially launched services to Melbourne Airport (MEL), becoming the airport’s 41st airline partner. The inaugural flight marked a notable expansion of air links between Australia and East Asia, strengthening connectivity between Victoria and the Greater Bay Area.
The new service connects Melbourne with Hong Kong (HKG), one of Asia’s leading financial and aviation hubs. The arrival underscores growing demand for international travel into Australia as airlines respond to expanded market access and rising passenger volumes.
Photo: Christian Junker | Photography | Flickr
Hong Kong Airlines Melbourne Flights
The first Hong Kong Airlines service, flight HK013, touched down in Melbourne and received a ceremonial water cannon salute on arrival. The flight symbolized the airline’s formal entry into Australia’s largest 24-hour international gateway and its first operation to the city.
The route is operated using an Airbus A330 widebody aircraft, offering passengers a full-service long-haul product.
Flights will operate three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, adding more than 93,000 seats annually to the Melbourne–Hong Kong market.
This capacity boost strengthens one of Melbourne Airport’s busiest international corridors. Hong Kong already ranks behind Singapore, Auckland, and Denpasar as the fourth-busiest international route by passenger volume.
Photo: By Melv_L – MACASR – https://www.flickr.com/photos/54943237@N04/32692675687/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81422405
Bilateral Rights Expansion
Hong Kong Airlines’ decision to commence Melbourne flights follows the recent expansion of bilateral air traffic rights between Hong Kong and Australia. The updated agreement allows airlines greater flexibility to add capacity and introduce new services between the two markets.
Airport officials highlighted the direct link between liberalized air service agreements and improved consumer choice.
Expanded rights have increased competition on the Melbourne–Hong Kong sector, benefiting travelers and exporters while supporting tourism and trade.
The new route is expected to contribute millions of dollars annually to the local economy. Increased air capacity supports inbound tourism, freight movement, and business travel between Australia and the broader Asian region.
Photo: By Masahiro TAKAGI from Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan – DSC03451, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69474027
Passenger Growth Momentum
The service launch comes amid strong international travel growth at Melbourne Airport. November recorded the busiest month for international passengers in the airport’s history, with more than one million travelers passing through the terminals.
International passenger numbers rose 6.9 percent year-on-year in November, while domestic traffic increased by 3.6 percent. Total passenger movements excluding transits grew 4.7 percent compared with the same period last year.
For the financial year to November, international traffic exceeded five million passengers, reflecting a 4.5 percent increase year-on-year. This sustained growth provides a supportive environment for airlines entering or expanding within the Melbourne market.
Flinders Street Station in Melbourne; Photo- Wikipedia
Melbourne: One of the Most Liveable Cities
Melbourne secured fourth place in the 2025 Global Liveability Index, reinforcing its long-running position among the world’s best cities. The ranking reflects steady progress after pandemic-era setbacks and highlights strengths across multiple urban metrics.
The city has now remained in the global top five for three consecutive years, underscoring consistent performance in healthcare, education, stability, and infrastructure.
Melbourne’s Position in the Global Rankings
The latest results from the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index place Melbourne among the most competitive cities worldwide.
The index evaluates 173 locations across stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Melbourne achieved an overall score of 97, well above the global average of 76.1.
Copenhagen took the top spot this year, ending Vienna’s three-year lead. Zürich ranked third. Melbourne followed closely with perfect scores in healthcare and education, strong results in stability and infrastructure, and one of the highest culture and environment scores in the dataset.
Sydney came in sixth, matching Melbourne in healthcare and education but trailing slightly in cultural metrics.
Sydney CBD as seen from Sydney Tower; Photo- Jorge Láscar from Melbourne, Australia; Wikimedia Commons
How Melbourne’s Score Compares
Melbourne’s culture and environment rating of 95.8 edged past Sydney’s 94.4, contributing to its higher overall placement.
The city’s strong infrastructure score of 96.4 also supported its return to pre-pandemic performance levels. These results suggest that ongoing investments in urban planning, public services, and cultural assets have helped Melbourne maintain its competitive advantage.
The Global Top Ten
Copenhagen
Vienna
Zürich
Melbourne
Geneva
Sydney
Osaka
Auckland
Adelaide
Vancouver
Why the Ranking Matters
The index serves as a benchmark for urban quality of life, guiding decision-making for governments, businesses, and residents.
Melbourne’s top five placement signals continued stability, strong public systems, and a resilient cultural landscape. Although city leaders and residents may aspire to reclaim the number one position, the current ranking illustrates sustained global relevance.
Photo: By Alan Wilson from Peterborough, Cambs, UK – Airbus A330-223 ‘B-LNC’ Hong Kong Airlines, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81067038
Bottom Line
Hong Kong Airlines’ arrival in Melbourne highlights how expanded air service agreements and rising demand continue to reshape Australia’s international aviation landscape.
With strong passenger growth and increased competition, the new route strengthens Melbourne’s position as a major Asia-Pacific gateway.
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