I didn’t realise BNE was a tag on as well :

https://airlinemaps.tumblr.com/post/...cathay-pacific

It did exist for a while if my memory is correct as the government was trying to increase competition in the domestic market.

I recall they launched it and they got banned, but then somehow got permission to go ahead.

It was super cheap as they were offering it for $100 one way. This was before DJ.

I cannot say that Melbourne was never a tag from Sydney flight but I started to fly on CX ex Sydney in 1974 (when the route that was cancelled many years previously was restarted) and it was always a direct flight SYD / HKG vv on the B707. Melbourne flights started some years later and I have some vague memory that Brisbane may have been a tag on to the Melbourne HK flight
Adalade started as a once a week tag on to the Melbourne - HK flight and grew over the years to twice daily.

the tag on I recall was always at the end meaning SYD is always non stop and mel is one stop.

for some reason I recall once I did hkg-drw-Syd as it was a tech stop. Don’t know why they had to tech stop because even the 742 can have the range to cover. It was not medical as I clearly remember they said they needed to refuel.

Yes there was a technical stop in DRW if weather intervened but normally for fuel. At that time there were fuel problems in Sydney due union action.
No Melbourne at that time definitely and I am fairly certain that there was never was a regular Melbourne - Sydney- Hong Kong flight but I stand to be proved incorrect.

In 1987, on the day I flew it, it went HKG-MEL-SYD. Although I was a child I remember the MEL stop. I had flown SYD-HKG nonstop so I assume it was triangular.

It was on a B747-200 back then.

I flew SYD-HKG in Dec 1991 on a 743.

I do recall in an old Discovery magazine the MEL tag also included a BNE rotation.

I forgot then whether you had to get off in MEL or can stay on board like the bne-cns?

i think reason I never did the mel-Syd in CX is we always selected the nonstop option. So it must’ve not been a daily ops to mel back then.

I don't know HKG-MEL-SYD, but I do remember getting off in SYD before going to MEL (as a child I was always MEL) and being held at the gate. So I kind of suspect MEL was CX100 too back then but was hoping someone would verify (or alternatively, my Young Discoverer logbook would show up in some spring cleaning).

P.S. My brother confirmed HKG-MEL-SYD and HKG-SYD-MEL and having CX100/101 flight codes back then. Since he didn't go to Sydney back then either, almost certain now.

so basically depending on the day and it will go via SYD or not.

so basically you need to reclear security in Syd before the final leg but no need to clear customs as you are in the international terminal.

1. HAN
From timetable (27 Oct 2002 - 29 March 2003, my newest one)
CX793 0905 1005 320 (marked operated by a partner airline)
CX791 1505 1605 321 (marked operated by a partner airline)
i.e no CX operating flight.

From timetable (1 Jul 2002 - 26 Oct 2002)
CX795 HKG to HAN 0900 0955 (267,TueSatSun) (operated by CX,343)
CX794 HAN to HKG 1115 1410 (267,TueSatSun) (operated by CX,343)
26Oct2002 is Saturday.

BTW, CX767/CX766 (HKG to SGN, SGN to HKG) are CX operating flights in 2004 Summer schedule.

2. ZRH
Unfortunately, I don't have 2001 Summer timetable(only have 28 pages Japanese summary version)
From timetable (29 Oct 2000 - 24 March 2001)
to 22 March 2001 CX291 HKG to ZRH 2335 0605+1 (2467) (operated by CX, aircraft 343)
on 24 March 2001 CX291 HKG to ZRH 2355 0640+1 (2467) (operated by CX, aircraft 343)
CX290 ZRH to HKG 1220 0700+1 (1357) (operated by CX, aircraft 343)
code share CX1291/CX1290(MD-11)
26Mar2001 is Monday

From Japanese summary (25 March 2001 - 30 June 2001)
CX291 HKG to ZRH 2355 0655+1 (2467) (operated by CX)
CX290 ZRH to HKG 1410 0750+1 (1357) (operated by CX)

From timetable (28 Oct 2001 - 31 March 2002)
no CX291/290, only CX1290/1291

3. MRU

1998 Summer timetable doesn't have MRU (no destination between Manila and Melbourne)

4. IST
From timetable (1 Jul 1998 - 24 Oct 1998)
From 08Aug1998
CX301 HKG to IST 1500 2120 (36,WedSat) (CX operated flight, 343, no other flight isn't on the timetable)
CX302 IST to HKG 2320 1520+1 (36,WedSat) (CX operated flight, 343, no other flight isn't on the timetable)

BTW, most CX flights had NON-SMOKING flight mark! (including CX301,302)
However, HKGNRT flights don't have NON-SMOKING mark. So, still had a smoking-section.

I can’t remember if I had to clear thru transit security either (c.f. TPE in recent years). I just remember being held in holding pen.

I think after 1993 all CX flights are non smoking

Thanks a bunch!!