Cathay Pacific Sets January 2027 Start for Hong Kong

HONG KONG — Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) plans to begin nonstop passenger flights between Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) and Almaty International Airport (ALA) on January 9, 2027, giving its previously announced Central Asian route a specific schedule.

The airline has opened bookings for three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Cathay says Almaty will become its first destination in Central Asia and the service will be the only direct passenger link between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan.

The schedule remains subject to regulatory approval. Cathay has not published an end date for the service.

Hong Kong–Almaty Schedule

All times are local.

| Flight | Route | Departure /Arrival | Operating days | |---|---|---:|---:|---| | CX681 | HKG–ALA | 4:25 p.m./8:30 p.m. | Tues, Thurs, Sat | | CX680 | ALA–HKG | 9:50 p.m./7:00 a.m. (+1d) | Tues, Thurs, Sat |

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Cathay said when it first announced the route on June 2 that it planned to use an Airbus A330-300 widebody. The airline has not disclosed whether the aircraft will carry a particular cabin configuration on the Almaty service.

The January start date replaces the broader first-quarter 2027 target given in June. The latest update also moves the route from an announced plan to a bookable itinerary, although regulatory approval remains outstanding.

Cathay's First Central Asian Destination

Almaty will extend Cathay's network beyond its existing service to Urumqi in northwestern China. Cathay launched Hong Kong–Urumqi flights in April 2025 and described that city as a connecting point near Central Asia, but Urumqi remains within the Chinese Mainland.

Cathay has positioned the route around business, tourism, and connecting traffic through Hong Kong. The airline describes Almaty as Kazakhstan's commercial and cultural center, while Hong Kong gives passengers access to Cathay's wider Asian and long-haul network.

The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan confirmed the planned service after a June meeting involving Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, and Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau. The authority also identified the planned aircraft as the A330-300 and the frequency as three flights per week.

For Cathay, the Almaty route adds another destination associated with trade and travel along China's Belt and Road markets. The airline said in June that Cathay Pacific and HK Express (UO) together operated close to 600 weekly return flights to 33 destinations it classifies within those markets.

Airways reported the initial Hong Kong–Almaty announcement in June. The January 9 date, flight numbers, operating days, and departure times were not available at that stage.

The next milestone is regulatory clearance. Until then, the January schedule is available for booking but remains subject to change.