Hong Kong’s flagship carrier Cathay Pacific is set to launch three flights a week to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s commercial and cultural hub, in the first quarter of 2027.

The announcement came while a high-level delegation led by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu is visiting the Central Asian country.

There are currently no direct commercial flights between the two cities. The shortest possible travel time hovers around nine hours, with layovers typically needed at Chinese mainland aviation hubs.

RELATED ARTICLES

• HKSAR, Kazakhstan ink 43 MoUs on $100m joint investment, direct flights
• CE starts Central Asia visit in Kazakhstan to boost ties
• HK’s Central Asia pivot is more than a trade mission

Cathay Pacific said the route will use a widebody Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Last year, Cathay Pacific launched direct flights to Urumqi in northwestern China, a city close to Central Asia.

In a statement, Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said that Cathay Pacific was “excited to build on that momentum”, hoping the direct Hong Kong‑Almaty flight would further foster new opportunities for the flow of people, cargo, and capital between the two places.

“Central Asia is a strategically important Belt and Road region that offers ample business opportunities. As Hong Kong’s home hub carrier, Cathay has aligned interests with the HKSAR government in strengthening our connectivity with this emerging market,” said Lau, who is part of the chief executive’s delegation.

Lee’s mission to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan kicked off on Sunday, with a 70‑strong delegation in tow to explore business opportunities.

Around 40 local representatives from diverse sectors form part of the group, together with around 30 representatives from mainland enterprises.

Contact the writer at wanqing@chinadailyhk.com