Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu delivers the opening remarks at the "Hello Hong Kong" Campaign Launch Ceremony on February 2, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Airlines in Hong Kong are acting to shore up the aviation industry and fuel the economic recovery of the city by giving away free air tickets to travelers.

The move is part of the “Hello, Hong Kong” campaign, a promotional move launched by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government in February to revitalize tourism after years of travel restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The campaign includes a draw for 500,000 air tickets. As with previous giveaways, the new round of free air tickets will be dispatched by local airlines including HK Express, Hong Kong Airlines and Cathay Pacific. 

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Starting on Tuesday, Hong Kong Express will give away 21,626 free round-trip air tickets to 19 cities in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan region. To be eligible for the program, participants must reside in Hong Kong, and the giveaway will run on a first-come, first-served basis through July 24. The free airline tickets are valid for travel from Aug 1 of this year until May 31, 2024, and travelers must complete their journey by May 31, 2024.

According to the Airport Authority Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) saw a significant rebound in passenger numbers to 12.4 million for the fiscal year ending in March after lifting all travel restrictions, representing a sevenfold increase on a yearly basis

Hong Kong Airlines announced on Monday that it will offer free air tickets with a 20-kilogram baggage allowance to over 20 destinations in the Chinese mainland, Japan, South Korea and Thailand from July 24 to Aug 25.

Cathay Pacific will also be giving away 36,090 tickets from Taipei or Kaohsiung to Hong Kong between July 25 and July 31. To be eligible, participants must be Cathay Pacific Asia Mile members and over 18 years old.

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Meanwhile, Greater Bay Airlines will give away a total of 1,500 round-trip tickets from Taipei to Hong Kong. Passengers who purchase one ticket from any of three designated travel agents in Taipei from July 3 to August 25 will receive an additional ticket for free.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Monday that the number of passengers flying into and out of Hong Kong rocketed from 28.6 million in 1998 to 71.5 million in 2019, just before the pandemic.

Hong Kong will continue to enhance its status as an international aviation hub under the National 14th Five-Year Plan and is committed to bringing fresh impetus to the airport to stay ahead of the competition with other regional airports, he said.

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According to the Airport Authority Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) saw a significant rebound in passenger numbers to 12.4 million for the fiscal year ending in March after lifting all travel restrictions, representing a sevenfold increase on a yearly basis. Flight movements also increased 11.5 percent to 161,160 compared with the same period a year earlier.

However, due to the global economic slowdown and disruptions to supply chains, HKIA’s cargo throughput decreased by 16 percent year-on-year to 4.1 million tons in 2022/23, though the airport continued to be one of the world’s busiest cargo airports.

“With passenger numbers expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by next year, I am pleased to say that Hong Kong International Airport is back with a very promising future,” Lee added.