I saw it as well. Damn the schedule update is so slow, CX really likes to wait till last minute to confirm the schedule.

CX 328 HKG SHA loadings seem healthy on a recent flight. Would be surprised if it's axed, haha.

Xinjiang Airport official WeChat account reports that CX is looking to launch flights to Urumqi, Xinjiang starting from May 1 this year.

Original report in Chinese:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Tc2gP80TyYzSPHEcQ57WMw

Translated by Google:
https://mp-weixin-qq-com.translate.g..._x_tr_pto=wapp

UO is opening a seasonal route to Miyako/Shimojishima, now serving all three Okinawa airports.

Exciting news!
I'm always intrigued, in situations like this, does the CX team just buy regular tickets from other (essentially future) competing airlines, or are there other arrangements? Presumably, they need confirmed space and cannot buy tickets where only standby is allowed.
On a related note, I actually know JX has a CX Business Plus account.

Are you suggesting that they would give their own money to China Southern simply to dry up supply? If so, wouldn't China Southern just keep their money and continue selling seats?

If I read the Chinese report correctly, the CX team went to URC to have a face-to-face meeting with airport authority. Assuming the CX team took the CZ direct flight, I was just wondering if the CX team bought regular CZ tickets like everyone else. Hope that clarifies my question.

Yes, the first iteration confused me, but that's clear. I would guess they flew up there on the scheduled flight, but getting flight plans approved for one-offs isn't that challenging these days.

Usually ,new route will start several months after the announcement for CX.

I highly doubt if CX will arrive urumqi in 1 may.
It may be a charter flight or uo route.

The slow update of flight timetable is confusing, especially when they’re not released at once.

I'll take the other side of that bet (May 1 is special day in China).

Their slow and drip feeding of the timetable is pretty offputting. I was going to say this is probably hurting their sales but I guess the general public doesn't follow these things and has no clue and just books whatever is available for sale so probably doesn't dent their bottom line that much.

exactly, most people I think wouldn't be able to tell the difference behind a330 and a350, and just book the cheapest/ best timings, like if there was a new or extremely special plane, they wouldn't really care.

and maybe most people book CX last minute so it doesn't matter anyway (perhaps a lot of corporate contracts and business travellers). or that CX management discusses and analyzes for a long time what aircraft and frequencies to put on a route

I think this is exactly the problem of finalising schedule late. As only higher fare classes are for sale in advance, price sensitive pax would be lost to the competition.

UO will start hong kong -Komatsu route from 24 april 2025.
3 times per week.
Cathay dragon has operated before by charter flight.