The only thing I can think of is to code share with VN and GA.

Even VN got 4 weekly SFO and UA is going to extend the LAX-HKG flight to SGN......

UO starts Kota Kinabalu daily service on 27 Nov 2025:
HKG-BKI 21:25-00:30
BKI-HKG 01:30-04:45

also MU given the frequency cap that are used up on the us side as well.

I think someone predicted this route

UO and CX making sure any competitors dont have monopoly to HK. Not surprised if airasia gets kicked out of this route eventually...

UO may do Langkawi, Kuching and Johoh Bahru too.

Won't be surprised by this, as Malaysia just allow Chinese tourists to visit Malaysia visa free, together with the reduce in tourists to Thailand, Malaysia for sure will see a surge in Chinese tourists. UO is just capturing this wave of rise in traffic.

UO is reducing the Chiang Mai flights in Sep from 2 daily to 1 daily, axing the morning flight from HK.

Looks like UO is trying hard to increase aircraft utilisation by adding redeye flights.

I recall long ago, Dragonair and AirAsia competed on BKI. Seems now it's more a level ground between UO and AirAsia.

off-topic, I can see that HX will reduce SYD to 4 weekly. Anyone thinks it is viable for HX to also launch Brisbane after launching MEL?

Not surprising - I had to make a last minute and all 3 CX evening flights were J1 or J0 while HX was wide open down to I9 with only a handful of seats assigned in the cabin. Ultimately thanks to my corporate TA or MPO, not sure which, I managed to clear in P a couple of hours before the flight. Although CX does make a decent amount of seats available for redemptions, I've never not had a cabin completely full to SYD, that is going back to just after the pandemic.

HX is also selling a package of 5 r/t for ~HK$70k, J booking class so fully flexible (but nonrefundable). I was tempted, but between the worthless FFP, mediocre hard product, and mostly concerns that they would cut the route, didn't make the purchase.

Good prediction!
Actually, BKI where KA flew its inaugural flight to in 1985. I believe scheduled flights started in 1993 but was suspended in 2018, by then KA had already been renamed Cathay Dragon.

Btw, DL LAX to HKG route officially announced, to be started daily from 6/6/2026, together with 3x daily LAX to ORD from 7/6/2026. Seems like HKG is link to at least an ORD corporate contract.

HX has finally announced its MEL route:

HX013 HKG - MEL 2310- 1130 +1 135
HX014 MEL - HKG 1300- 1920 246

As i said, hopefully there will be a 3 weekly route to Brisbane.

By the way, anyone knows whether HX can fly to London with A330s without reduce loading? It seems to have similar distance to Vancouver and I don't think Vancouver had reduce loading too?

By the way, HX is also launching its Lijiang route and resuming its Phuket route. It's Urumqi route, which its CEO claims to be launched in August is nowhere to be seen.

GBA on the other hand is launching its Hokkaido route in Dec (not sure whether its seasonal) and rumored to have applied to the DOT to fly to Guam and Saipan.

I don't think HX can fly over Russia.