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From Eight Days to One Overnight Flight: British Airways Marks 90 Years of Flying to Hong Kong
HONG KONG
The airline's predecessor first reached the city in 1936. Nine decades later, it celebrated with a lion dance, heritage cheongsam uniforms and a promise to keep investing in Asia
Few routes have changed as much as the one between Hong Kong and London. When an Imperial Airways aircraft reached the city in March 1936, the journey took more than eight days, with multiple stops and aircraft changes. This year, the airline marked 90 years of flying to Hong Kong with a reception for partners and guests from Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, where the same route is now served by a daily non-stop Airbus A350.
All images are courtesy of British Airways.
A Journey That Once Took More Than a Week
British Airways traces its Hong Kong story back to Imperial Airways, the predecessor that launched the first scheduled service between the UK and Hong Kong in 1936. The following year, the airline says, the journey still took more than eight days and carried only 14 passengers. Over the decades, the route moved from propeller aircraft and flying boats to jets, flying the Comet, Boeing 707, 747, 777, Airbus A380 and now the A350.
According to the airline, the milestones that followed were:
1959: Jet services significantly reduce journey times.
1986: The first non-stop flights between London and Hong Kong.
1990s to 2000s: Services grow from several weekly flights to twice-daily non-stop flights.
2013: The first British Airways Airbus A380 arrives in Hong Kong.
2019/20: Frequency is reduced to one daily service following the outbreak of Covid-19.
2026: A daily Airbus A350 service with the airline's latest Club Suite.
CSP Times flew that Club Suite from Hong Kong to London in January, and you can read our full review here.
A Celebration With Local Touches
The evening leaned into Hong Kong tradition. British Airways' China-based cabin crew wore the heritage cheongsam uniform to honour the airline's long history in the city, and a lion dance and eye-dotting ceremony was a highlight. The airline says the four ceremonial touches represented its proud heritage, its long-standing connection between Hong Kong and the world, an exciting new chapter and a shared commitment to the future.
Speaking at the event, Neil Chernoff, the airline's Chief Planning & Strategy Officer, said:
"Ninety years is a remarkable milestone for any airline, but for us it is about much more than a number. It is about a relationship that has grown and evolved through extraordinary changes in aviation, technology, business and the way people connect with one another. While our aircraft, technology and customer experience have continued to evolve over time, our purpose has remained the same: bringing people, businesses and communities closer together."
What Comes Next
Chernoff reaffirmed British Airways' commitment to Hong Kong, describing it as a leading international aviation and business hub that is well placed for continued growth thanks to its growing links with the Greater Bay Area and wider Asia-Pacific region. He also pointed to the airline's multi-billion-pound transformation programme, which includes investments in new cabins, lounges, digital innovation and customer experience.
Beyond Hong Kong, British Airways flies to Shanghai, Tokyo, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Sydney in the region. Its Melbourne service resumes early next year, and the airline says it will keep exploring ways to expand its footprint through network development, deeper partnerships and enhanced products and services. It is also a Joint Business partner of China Southern Airlines, giving customers more connections between China, the UK and Europe, and the ability to earn and redeem frequent flyer points across both airlines.
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