Hong Kong Airlines Launches Melbourne Flights: 3 Times Weekly Service Starting December 2025

Routes between Australia and Hong Kong are among the most profitable in the world. Hong Kong is both a connection point for travelers and a massively important trade hub for international companies. Therefore flights to the SAR and Australia are plentiful. Soon to become a travel option is Hong Kong Airlines with its new HX13 flight to Melbourne (MEL).

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Flight Schedule: Hong Kong-Melbourne 3 Times Weekly Service

Without tiptoeing around the most important information to know about the flight let’s get into the schedule of Hong Kong Airlines new Hong Kong to Melbourne HX13 flight.

The airline will commence serving the route from Hong Kong to Melbourne three times per week starting December 12th 2025.

HX13, Hong Kong Airlines’ flight to Melbourne, will operate every:

• Monday
• Wednesday
• Friday

With the return leg from Melbourne to Hong Kong operating the following day of the week.

Flight Times and Aircraft: A330-300 Operations

In terms of aircraft there was only one choice for Hong Kong Airlines on its new HX13 flight. That is the Airbus A330-300, which also is the only wide body aircraft the airline possesses. The A330 operates all of the airline’s longest routes or highest capacity ones.

Hong Kong Airlines has all of its Airbus A330-300s configured in a 2 class layout. However, they are not all identical with different seat density and types. The complete breakdown of these three setups:

Aircraft	Business (Layout)	Economy (Layout)
A330-300	32 (1-2-1)	260 (2-4-2)
A330-300	24 (1-2-1)	279 (2-4-2)
A330-300	30 (2-2-2)	255 (2-4-2)

The nicest setup of the three, looking specifically at business class, is the second one which features the nicer Collins Aerospace Super Diamond seat which is a fairly new design and a solid product.

Seasonal Service Period: December 2025 to March 2026

The kickoff date and the seasonality of the flight tell us a little more about who Hong Kong Airlines is trying to attract with this new Hong Kong to Melbourne service.

HX13 will commence operations on December 12th and will continue to operate the Hong Kong to Melbourne route until March 2026. Those two pieces of information tell us that this is a leisure focused service, because it matches exactly with the Australian summer season.

Hong Kong Airlines Enters Competitive Melbourne-Hong Kong Market

Hong Kong Airlines is going to have its work cut out for itself on this new sector. It will have to go against two heavyweights of the Pacific aviation industry, which also operate regularly flights on the Hong Kong to Melbourne route.

With flight HX13 Hong Kong Airlines will be going head to head with the other Hong Kong based, and much better established, airline Cathay Pacific and Australia’s national carrier Qantas.

Competition with Cathay Pacific and Qantas on MEL-HKG Route

Qantas and Cathay Pacific combined operate a total of 26 weekly flights, with the Hong Kong carrier accounting for 19 services alone. Add into the equation the new Hong Kong Airlines flight HX13 and those flight hit 29 weekly services.

On such competitive routes the market should be able to sustain another 3 weekly flights. However what remains to be seen is how Qantas and Cathay will react to the entrance of a non oneworld airline on this route.

Qantas and Cathay Pacific are both oneworld alliance airlines and therefore work hand in hand, Hong Kong Airlines will be disrupting this more or less agreed duopoly on the route. Something that might induce one of Qantas and Cathay to be more aggressive.

Hong Kong Airlines Becomes 41st Carrier at Tullamarine Airport

Looking at the route from Melbourne Airport’s perspective is a win. Flight HX13 brings a new airline to Melbourne and the state of Victoria, the 41st to be precise. A new flight and airline which increase airport revenues and travel options and flexibility for travelers.

Australia Network Growth: Third Australian Destination for Hong Kong Airlines

Australia has been the top priority for Hong Kong Airlines in 2025 in terms of long haul route expansion. The new HX13 flight is the third route the airline operated this year to Australia, further proving how the country as a whole is a strategically important destination for any airline in China and Hong Kong.

Following Gold Coast and Sydney Routes in 2025

The other two flights Hong Kong Airlines has operated at different stages of 2025 to Australia are those from Hong Kong to:

• Gold Coast
• Sydney

They are both primarily cut to serve primarily leisure travelers, however Sydney with its daily frequency could also appeal to the business traveler.

Connectivity Opportunities to 30+ Asian and North American Cities – Can it Work?

It is a bit hit and miss on the onwards travel opportunities. Although it does serve over 30 destinations across Asia and North America (currently only Vancouver, Canada) it can involve long transfers at Hong Kong International Airport or there might not be any connection options outright.

Also the website isn’t the easiest to use and doesn’t offer the best user experience. Especially for a westerner and english speaker it seems a clunky. You’ll have to pour some time into finding the best option for your travel.

If your priority is convenience, then maybe consider Cathay Pacific or Qantas. However, you might come across some interesting deals on Hong Kong Airlines which might be worth spending some extra time at HKIA.