[Hong Kong ▪ 26 March 2018] Hong Kong Airlines celebrated the launch of its new A350 service to San Francisco yesterday. The City by the Bay becomes the airline’s third destination in North America, following the successful launch of services to Vancouver and Los Angeles in 2017.

Flight HX060 departed Hong Kong on time at 1303 and touched down at San Francisco International Airport at 1023 local time. Following a celebration event at the boarding gate hosted by Hong Kong Airlines, flight HX061 departed from San Francisco at noon and is scheduled to arrive ahead of time on early Monday evening. To mark this special occasion, Mark Farrell, Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco, proclaimed March 25, 2018 as the “Hong Kong Airlines Day in San Francisco”.

Mr George Liu, Chief Marketing Officer at Hong Kong Airlines, said: “We are thrilled to launch our new service between Hong Kong and San Francisco, connecting two great cities with a non-stop direct flight. While Hong Kong Airlines is relatively new to the North American market, we are committed to offering a value proposition to our customers, including the deployment of Airbus A350, one of the most technologically advanced aircraft in the world, and ensuring customers enjoy an exceptional inflight service delivered by our energetic crew.”

"We are pleased to welcome the launch of Hong Kong Airlines' new nonstop service to SFO," said San Francisco International Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. "As only the second destination in the United States, we are honored that Hong Kong Airlines has made our airport an important part of their growth strategy. This move reinforces SFO as the premier international gateway to the San Francisco Bay Area."

To make the San Francisco service extra special, Hong Kong Airlines has collaborated with USA celebrity chef and television personality Chris Cosentino to bring his flair for innovative cuisine onboard. Renowned for his seasonal and rustic cooking, Chef Cosentino is known for his restaurant, Cockscomb, where he reinterprets classic San Francisco dishes by adding his own unique twist. Business Class passengers travelling from San Francisco to Hong Kong will enjoy a specially curated menu created by Chef Cosentino featuring a three course meal presented in new tableware by Hong Kong designers JIA. This delectable menu will also be introduced on Hong Kong Airline’s Los Angeles – Hong Kong route in the months ahead.

Business Class passengers can also look forward to receiving an updated set of Hong Kong-themed amenity kits, designed by Hong Kong’s Ricebowl Republic and CLIP. Each pouch is made with thick cotton canvas and lined with bold-coloured fabric, featuring birdcage, teapot, rice bowl or the Hong Kong city skyline.

Hong Kong Airlines operates flights between Hong Kong and San Francisco four-times weekly at the following schedule# (all times local).