Hong Kong, 1 January, 2018 Hong Kong-based airline HK Express waved goodbye to 2017 with a special countdown celebration on New Year’s Eve at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). President Mr. Li Dianchun and the senior management team surprised guests on the airline’s last arriving flight of the year: UO1845, which flew from Osaka-Kansai to Hong Kong on 31 December 2017.

The team welcomed the lucky New Year’s Eve passengers with a travel-themed gifts, including handy zipper travel bags, and an opportunity to snap photos with the senior management team. At the same time, HK Express senior managers greeted the flight’s pilots and cabin crew with bouquets of fresh flowers to show appreciation for their hard work during the holiday season.

As 2017 came to a close, HK Express celebrated yet another year of dramatic growth. The Hong Kong-based airline flew over 3,787,000 passengers across its route network by year’s end, representing a 30% increase compared with the same period last year. During the peak Christmas travel period, the airline welcomed roughly 345,000 passengers in December, a record high for HK Express. Looking ahead, HK Express expects to fly over 4.35 million people in 2018.

The air transport industry also experienced rapid development in 2017. Between January and November, Hong Kong International Airport welcomed 66.5 million passengers, marking a 3.3% increase compared with the same period in 2016, according to Hong Kong International Airport.

“Flying forward into 2018, HK Express will face fierce competition in Hong Kong’s air transport industry, but we can expect more opportunities for the aviation industry due to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link,” said Mr. Li Dianchun, President of HK Express. “HK Express will take this opportunity to ensure superlative service by focusing on passengers’ needs. We will also do our utmost to contribute to Hong Kong’s growth as a top tourism and business destination.”