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HK Express (UO) Guide

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Low-cost flights from Hong Kong to Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Southeast Asia, fleet, fare options, baggage, check-in and how to find cheaper HK Express fares. Ask a question
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In short

HK Express is Hong Kong's low-cost airline, owned by Cathay Pacific since 2019 and flying Airbus A320 and A321 jets from Hong Kong International. It serves about 29 destinations in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and mainland China, good for short budget trips. It is not in an alliance but links to Asia Miles. All seats are Economy.

HK Express is Hong Kong’s low-cost airline and a wholly owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific.

Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with HK Express. Routes, schedules and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.

What to expect

HK Express (IATA UO) is the low-cost airline of the Cathay Pacific group, flying from Hong Kong International Airport to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, mainland China and Southeast Asia. It suits budget travellers who want a cheap base fare and are happy to pay only for the extras they use, such as a checked bag or a chosen seat.

How HK Express began

Hong Kong Express Airways was incorporated on 10 March 2004 and began flying on 3 September 2005, first owned by the Macau casino businessman Stanley Ho. On 26 June 2013 it announced it would become a low-cost airline under the name HK Express, and the first low-cost flights took off on 27 October 2013. Cathay Pacific agreed to buy the airline for HK$4.93 billion in March 2019, and the deal closed on 19 July 2019. HK Express still runs as a separate low-cost brand inside the group.

The pandemic halted flying from March to April 2020, and services came back gradually from August 2020. HK Express has had no fatal accidents or hull losses.

Hong Kong base and the move to Terminal 2

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) is the only base, and HK Express moved to the airport's new Terminal 2 on 10 June 2026. Sources count 27 to 29 destinations. Japan is the largest market, with Tokyo, Osaka and smaller cities such as Takamatsu, and the network also reaches Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok, mainland China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and the US territory of Guam. Kuala Lumpur Subang and Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia joined in 2025.

The airline's U-Connect service sells connections between its own flights, and Greater Bay Area intermodal transfers link the airport with cities in Guangdong. HK Express also sells holiday packages.

Fares and extras

The base fare covers the seat itself. Checked bags, seat selection, meals and other extras cost more. The website groups fares into categories and sells HK Express Flexi for more freedom to change and HK Express Priority+ for faster service at the airport. Adding bags and seats while you book online usually costs less than buying them later, and staff check cabin bag size and weight at the gate.

Spotting fake emails and websites

HK Express warns customers about fake emails, text messages, websites and social media accounts that pretend to be the airline. Book on the official HK Express website or app, or through a trusted agent, and check any message about refunds or changes against your booking online.

Travel tip: an HK Express ticket is separate from a Cathay Pacific ticket even though the airlines share an owner. If you connect between the two in Hong Kong, your bags and the connection are not protected, so leave a generous gap.

Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change

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HK Express

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Good to know

  • Founded2004
  • Online check-inYes

Everything you should know

Airline codes

UO · HKE

IATA · ICAO · callsign “HONGKONG SHUTTLE”

Every HK Express flight number begins with UO. Flight-tracking sites and air traffic control use the ICAO code HKE, and the radio callsign is HONGKONG SHUTTLE.

Key facts

Network

About 29 destinations

Japan · Korea · Taiwan · Southeast Asia · Mainland China

HK Express is strongest in Japan, with flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Okinawa and smaller cities, plus Korea, Taiwan and Southeast Asia.

Destinations

Cabin classes

Economy

One all-Economy cabin; seats, bags and meals are paid extras.

About the cabin

Good to know

HK Express uses the slogan “Gotta Go”. As a low-cost airline, the base fare covers a seat and a small carry-on; everything else is added when you book. Official website: hkexpress.com.

Frequent flyer

Asia Miles

No global alliance

HK Express is owned by Cathay Pacific, and its flights earn Asia Miles.

How it works

Start a new search

Before you book HK Express, run the same dates through bookingMentor: rival airlines on routes from HKG appear in one set of results.

Enjoy your HK Express flight!

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At a glance

HK Express (IATA: UO, ICAO: HKE) is a low-cost airline based at Hong Kong International Airport and owned by Cathay Pacific since 2019. It flies about 42 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft to around 29 destinations in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and mainland China.

Key facts about HK Express
HeadquartersCathay House, Hong Kong International Airport
Fleet typesAirbus A321neo, A321, A320neo, A320
Frequent flyerAsia Miles
Official websitehkexpress.com

Flight routes

Destinations and routes

Direct routes
HK Express serves the places below according to its published network. Routes are added, paused and rescheduled, so confirm the current HK Express timetable when you search. Search flights

Japan

Hong Kong (HKG) departures7 destinations

Check all

Fleet and aircraft

HK Express flies only the Airbus A320 family. As of July 2026 it had 42 aircraft: six A320-200s, ten A320neos, ten A321-200s and 16 A321neos, with 18 more on order. Every aircraft has a single Economy cabin.

  • Airbus A321neo Narrow-body · 16 Busy routes to Japan and Korea
  • Airbus A321-200 Narrow-body · 10 Main network
  • Airbus A320neo Narrow-body · 10 Main network
  • Airbus A320-200 Narrow-body · 6 Shorter routes

Cabin classes

One cabin with optional extras.

Economy All flights

Pay for the extras you need

All seats are Economy. Bags, seat selection and meals are bought separately or in bundles.

Small carry-on includedOptional checked bagOptional seat choiceFood for purchase

Asia Miles

Cathay’s rewards programme, which replaced HK Express’s own Reward-U scheme in 2019.

Eligible HK Express flights earn Asia Miles, which can be spent on Cathay Pacific, oneworld partners and HK Express flights.

HK Express had its own Reward-U scheme from April 2016, which closed on 31 December 2019 and merged into Asia Miles, Cathay's programme. Members can now earn on HK Express and redeem Cathay membership miles for HK Express flights.

Baggage allowance

Check your e-ticket for the exact HK Express allowance. It is set by the fare type, the cabin and the route, whether you start at HKG or another airport.

Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Depends on fare
Extra bags
Cheaper before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only

The basic fare includes a small carry-on only. Checked bags are bought by weight when you book or in Manage Booking.

Pro tip: buying checked baggage online in advance is usually much cheaper than paying at the airport.
Travel day

Online Check-in

The four steps below take you from your HK Express booking to the gate, whether you depart from HKG or another airport on its network.

  • Online check-in available
  1. Step 1

    Check in online

    Where your flight allows it, check in on hkexpress.com or app with your surname and booking reference or e-ticket number.

    Booking ref + surname
  2. Step 2

    Prepare your documents

    Pack your passport plus any visa, residence permit or entry papers your destination asks for. Domestic UO passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.

    Passport · visa · ID
  3. Step 3

    Arrive early

    Each airport has its own HK Express check-in and bag-drop deadline, listed in your booking. Allow extra time for busy terminals and international UO departures.

    Well before departure
  4. Step 4

    Drop your bags

    At the airport, take your bags to the HK Express bag-drop point. Collect a printed UO boarding pass there if you have not saved one to your phone.

    HK Express counter
Departing from Hong Kong? Terminals, lounges, food and transport at Hong Kong International, all in one guide.
Hong Kong Airport guide Check in with HK Express
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Cheap tickets

HK Express fares out of Hong Kong move with the season and the fare brand. These habits help keep the price down.

  1. 01

    Try midweek UO flights

    If your dates can move, look at UO flights across the whole week. Midweek seats are often cheaper than weekend ones.

    Midweek flights
  2. 02

    Avoid peak seasons

    Lunar New Year, Easter, summer and Japan’s autumn and cherry-blossom seasons are busy. Book early for these dates.

    Japanese holidays
  3. 03

    Check what each HK Express fare includes

    The lowest UO fare is not always the cheapest trip once bags and seats are added. Compare the fare types before you pay.

    Baggage & changes

  4. Ready to compare fares?

    Search HK Express alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.

    Search HK Express flights

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Everything travellers ask before flying HK Express.
We check these HK Express answers with the airline’s own sources and aviation references every season.

General

Yes. HK Express has been wholly owned by Cathay Pacific since July 2019 and is the group's low-cost airline. It still runs its own fares, rules and booking system, so HK Express tickets are separate from Cathay Pacific tickets.