HK Express is the wholly owned low-cost carrier of the Cathay Group, founded in 2004 and hubbed solely at Hong Kong International Airport HKG, flying an Airbus A320 and A321 family fleet. The focus is belly cargo from mainland China: e-commerce shipments from the Yangtze River Delta, small high-value pieces from the Pearl River Delta, and narrowbody belly capacity on nonstop mainland routes into Hong Kong, along with how bookings are handled. HK Express operates no freighters and all cargo moves as passenger belly capacity.
HK Express was founded in 2004, initially operating as an affiliate of Hong Kong Airlines, and converted fully to a low-cost carrier under the HK Express brand in 2013. Cathay Pacific completed its full acquisition in 2019, making HK Express the low-cost arm of the Cathay group alongside Cathay Pacific and Air Hong Kong in a multi-tier capacity structure. As of December 2025 the Cathay group annual report put the HK Express fleet at 44 Airbus narrowbodies.
After converting to a low-cost carrier HK Express positioned itself as a specialist in leisure routes to Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia, built on short-haul international flights from Hong Kong. When borders reopened in 2023 the airline made the mainland China network an expansion priority, restoring and opening points at Beijing Daxing, Changzhou, Ningbo, Yiwu, Wuxi, Hefei and Guiyang. The Cathay group's 2024 annual report notes that HK Express, Cathay Pacific and Air Hong Kong together cover the transit market at Hong Kong International Airport, with low-cost belly capacity complementing full-service widebody belly space and freighter capacity.
The mainland network has kept growing since the 2023 reopening. On 29 May 2025 the airline opened Hong Kong to Yiwu in Zhejiang, the only route between Hong Kong and Yiwu, three times weekly; on 31 July 2025 it opened Hong Kong to Guiyang, four times weekly, its sixth mainland point; and on 17 July 2026 it opened a daily nonstop to Wuxi, taking the mainland total to seven points alongside Changzhou, Ningbo, Yiwu, Wuxi, Hefei, Guiyang and Beijing Daxing. These points take cargo as narrowbody passenger belly capacity and are an important channel for small high-value exports from the Delta manufacturing belts to Hong Kong for onward distribution.
Belly business at a low-cost carrier differs from a full-service airline. HK Express sells space according to the belly volume left over on passenger flights, runs no separate cargo sales network, and cargo is usually secured through a forwarder with UO selling authority. No public information shows an own freighter fleet; all cargo moves in A320 and A321 family passenger belly holds.
When announcing its tenth A321neo in November 2024, HK Express disclosed a fleet of 39 aircraft: 6 A320ceo, 10 A320neo, 13 A321ceo and 10 A321neo, average age 7.3 years. By December 2025 the Cathay group annual report put the fleet at 44 aircraft. New aircraft mainly support the continuing expansion of the mainland network, particularly daily nonstop demand at new Delta points such as Yiwu and Wuxi.
By industry flow the mainland points cluster in the Yangtze River Delta manufacturing belt. Changzhou's solar and equipment manufacturing, Ningbo's stationery and appliance parts, Yiwu's small commodities and toys, Wuxi's semiconductors and consumer electronics and Hefei's appliance panels and new energy parts form the main cargo base. Shippers in the Pearl River Delta truck cargo to Hong Kong International Airport and use belly space in the other direction to mainland points, or distribute through Hong Kong to Southeast Asia, northeast Asia, Europe and the world.
With the Yiwu point open, the belly capacity links China's largest small commodity distribution centre directly into the Hong Kong transit network. Yiwu goods are characterised by many pieces, low piece weight and strong seasonality, which matches narrowbody belly space closely. The Wuxi point gives the Delta's semiconductor and consumer electronics belt a low-cost nonstop channel to Hong Kong for small high-value pieces.
Freight pricing at a Hong Kong low-cost carrier differs from a full-service airline. Passenger fares are sold per sector and belly space is priced per kilogram; it does not move with the fare but is clearly affected by load factor. In high season, when loads are high, available belly volume is taken up by passenger baggage and space prices rise; in low season, when loads are low, space is relatively cheap, which suits e-commerce cargo that is cost-sensitive but not time-critical.
The diagram is a schematic network: Hong Kong International Airport as the origin, main mainland points along a horizontal timeline, red dashed lines for the return leg. Dots mark the cities and angled lines the nonstop sectors. Actual schedules and aircraft follow the seasonal booking confirmation and the diagram is illustrative.
The A320 family hold measures about 37.42 cubic metres and flies Hong Kong to Hefei, Guiyang, Changzhou and Ningbo. Narrowbody bellies are mainly bulk space with small LD3 containers and single pieces are usually limited to around 80 kg. Low-cost carriers sell the belly volume left over from passengers, so space moves with load factor.
The A321 family hold measures about 51.76 cubic metres with a typical belly payload of about 2.4 tonnes, and flies Hong Kong to Yiwu, Wuxi and Beijing Daxing. The A321neo is the fuel-efficient new generation and the type HK Express has focused on since 2023; average fleet age is about 7 years.
The four Delta points of Yiwu, Wuxi, Changzhou and Ningbo cover China's small commodity and consumer electronics belts. Cross-border e-commerce direct mail, small commodities and consumer electronics parts fly nonstop to Hong Kong and are distributed from Hong Kong International Airport to Southeast Asia, Europe, the Americas and the world. Hong Kong has a dense network of express bonded warehouses and fast e-commerce clearance, so direct mail under 5 kg per piece can connect in 24 to 48 hours.
The belly holds take garments, footwear, leather goods, jewellery, electronic parts and brand catalogues. Temperature-sensitive cargo must be declared at booking and is handled in temperature-controlled space at the Hong Kong terminal. No public information shows a standing live animals area. Leather goods and jewellery should be packed against shock and covered by all-risks cargo insurance.
The Guiyang point covers southwest speciality agricultural products, electronic components and consumer goods for export; Beijing Daxing covers high-end garments, electronic samples and cross-border e-commerce from north China. Both fly nonstop to Hong Kong in narrowbody bellies with overall transit of 3 to 5 working days. Guiyang, the sixth mainland point, fills the gap in low-cost nonstop service from Hong Kong to the southwest.
No public information shows HK Express operating its own freighters. Shippers needing volume freighter space can use other freighter operators at Hong Kong International Airport or connect with Air Hong Kong, the Cathay group subsidiary that operates all-cargo flights within Asia.
Consumer electronics parts, semiconductor packages and laptop battery cargo from Wuxi, Hefei and Ningbo have long used the belly holds. Products containing lithium batteries are assessed under IATA DGR rules and those meeting exemption conditions can be declared at booking. Heavily restricted battery products need a per-shipment application.
Festive goods, toys and garment accessories from Yiwu, stationery and garments from Ningbo and solar parts from Changzhou are light, bulky, high in piece count and time-sensitive. They suit bulk positions in A320 and A321 narrowbody bellies, with single pieces usually between 5 and 20 kg.
The table lists the main mainland passenger points and their belly cargo use. Schedules and aircraft change between the winter and summer seasons and actual space follows the seasonal booking confirmation. Point density in the Yangtze River Delta is the highest of any region, the area of most interest to shippers.
| Destinations | Airport | Opened / frequency | Main cargo sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing Daxing | PKX | Scheduled passenger service | High-end garments, electronic samples, e-commerce shipments |
| Changzhou | CZX | Scheduled passenger service | Solar products, equipment parts |
| Ningbo | NGB | Scheduled passenger service | Stationery, appliance parts, garments |
| Yiwu | YIW | Opened 29 May 20253 flights per week | Small commodities, toys, festive goods |
| Wuxi | WUX | Opened 17 July 2026Daily nonstop | Semiconductors, consumer electronics, machinery |
| Hefei | HFE | Scheduled passenger service | Appliance panels, new energy parts |
| Guiyang | KWE | Opened 31 July 20254 flights per week | Specialty agricultural products, electronic components |
| Freighter | No public information shows HK Express operating a freighter fleet | ||
The shipper gives the forwarder shipper, consignee and notify party details and the commodity, pieces, gross weight, volume, piece dimensions, marks, HS code and required handover date. The forwarder secures space against the seasonal HK Express schedule and obtains the house and master air waybill numbers. Low-cost space is sold from leftover belly volume, so submit the instruction 3 to 7 working days ahead. In high season, on top of passenger peaks, space is tighter than on full-service widebody channels.
Mainland shippers can hand cargo over at the departure airport directly into the passenger belly for the nonstop to Hong Kong. Delta shippers can also truck cargo to a bonded warehouse at Hong Kong International Airport. Export clearance needs the invoice, packing list, contract and export declaration, with licences for controlled goods. Battery products must be declared separately at booking.
Hong Kong International Airport is among the busiest international cargo airports in the world, with a dense concentration of air cargo terminals, integrator transit centres and customs bonded warehouses. On arrival cargo can be re-sorted and re-palletised in a bonded warehouse and distributed to Southeast Asian, northeast Asian, European and North American points. Belly cargo can connect to the Cathay and Air Hong Kong global network, moving from HK Express narrowbody belly space to Cathay widebody belly space or an Air Hong Kong freighter.
On arrival the destination broker files the import declaration. Last-mile delivery is by local partner fleets, and no public information shows an own truck network at destination. Cross-border e-commerce direct mail can use the local parcel network for the final mile. Clearance at the main Southeast Asian points is fast and e-commerce shipments are usually released 1 to 2 working days after arrival.
The fourth quarter is the Christmas stock-building peak for cross-border e-commerce and space from Hong Kong to the Delta is tight. In the four to six weeks before Spring Festival the Delta to Hong Kong direction is tight as well. Hong Kong's tourist high season from October to March brings high load factors and belly volume is clearly affected by passenger traffic. Shippers should secure space one to two weeks before the peak and agree alternative points and capacity with the forwarder.
Liability for belly carriage is governed by the Warsaw and Montreal conventions, and shippers of small high-value pieces should take out all-risks cargo insurance. Cross-border e-commerce direct mail is usually insured per piece with the sum agreed between shipper and insurer. Insurance terms for temperature-sensitive and battery products must be agreed separately at booking.
As the low-cost arm of the Cathay group, HK Express belly capacity sits with Cathay Pacific full-service widebody belly space and Air Hong Kong freighters in a three-tier group structure. For shippers, HK Express narrowbody bellies suit light, bulky, high-value e-commerce shipments and brand catalogues with many pieces of low weight; Cathay widebodies suit volume, heavy cargo and long-haul Europe and North America routes; Air Hong Kong freighters suit full pallets, full holds and the most urgent cargo. The three tiers connect within the same bonded warehouse at Hong Kong International Airport.
Delta shippers usually truck cargo to Hong Kong International Airport and complete palletising, export clearance and screening there. The airport is linked to Delta cities by the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Shenzhen Bay and Liantang crossings, with road transit of 2 to 4 hours. Shippers in the Yangtze River Delta can hand over directly at Yiwu, Wuxi, Changzhou, Ningbo, Hefei and other mainland points for the nonstop belly flight to Hong Kong.
Freight pricing at a Hong Kong low-cost carrier suits smaller sellers. Belly space is priced per kilogram with a minimum chargeable weight usually from 45 kg, and e-commerce pieces of 5 to 20 kg reach Southeast Asia or global distribution within 3 to 5 working days. For cross-border sellers with steady daily volumes and high unit values, HK Express belly space is a good balance of cost and transit. Smaller sellers can hold space through Goodhope Freight's pallet consolidation to lower the cost per piece.
Goodhope Freight works with long-standing brokers and truck fleets at Hong Kong International Airport and can handle the whole chain: Delta pickup, palletising in a Hong Kong bonded warehouse, export clearance, HK Express belly booking and distribution from Hong Kong to destination. The shipper supplies cargo details and required transit, and we compare options across HK Express belly space, Cathay widebody belly space and Air Hong Kong freighters.
Point density in the Yangtze River Delta is markedly higher than in other regions. The five Delta points of Changzhou, Ningbo, Yiwu, Wuxi and Hefei together offer more than 22 round trips a week, covering the main export cities of the Delta manufacturing belt. For Delta manufacturers the belly capacity offers a low-cost route into the Hong Kong transit network without going through the widebody channels at Shanghai Pudong or Hangzhou Xiaoshan.
Ground handling at Hong Kong International Airport is provided within the Cathay group terminal system, so arrival cargo can be palletised, screened and distributed in the same bonded warehouse without a second transfer between terminals. That group coordination is one reason smaller sellers choose the belly product: space is priced on a low-cost structure while ground handling stays at full-service standard.
For Delta e-commerce sellers already using Hong Kong International Airport as their export gateway, the belly product is a light, per-kilogram capacity top-up. When Cathay widebody belly space or Air Hong Kong freighter space is tight, sellers can move small e-commerce pieces, brand catalogues and samples to HK Express narrowbody bellies temporarily, so the whole shipping schedule is not delayed by one constrained channel.
By industry, Yiwu corresponds to the small commodity and festive goods export belt, Wuxi to semiconductor packaging and consumer electronics, Changzhou to solar modules and equipment parts, Ningbo to stationery, appliance parts and textiles, and Hefei to appliance panels and new energy vehicle parts. The five points differ clearly in cargo mix but all reach Hong Kong within the day for the Cathay group global transit network.
The booking window is relatively short. Narrowbody belly volume is limited and in high season space is often taken 48 to 72 hours before departure. Shippers and forwarders should submit the booking instruction as soon as the shipping plan is confirmed and have cargo at the terminal 24 hours before handover. Cargo with lithium batteries, temperature requirements or single pieces over 80 kg must be declared at booking to avoid rejection at the terminal.
HK Express carries cargo in the belly holds of low-cost passenger aircraft, and no public information shows an own freighter fleet. Shippers needing volume freighter space can use Air Hong Kong or other freighter operators at Hong Kong International Airport.
Mainland shippers can hand cargo over at the departure airport directly into the passenger belly and distribute after the nonstop to Hong Kong, or truck cargo to a bonded warehouse at Hong Kong International Airport, palletise it there and distribute worldwide.
Narrowbody belly limits are usually around 80 kg per piece on the A320 family and around 100 kg on the A321 family, with about 150 kg per LD3 container. The seasonal loading manual and terminal acceptance govern.
Yiwu covers China's small commodity manufacturing belt and Wuxi the semiconductor and consumer electronics belt. Both fly nonstop to Hong Kong in narrowbody bellies, and cross-border e-commerce shipments can be cleared in Hong Kong and distributed worldwide within 3 to 5 working days overall.
HK Express is wholly owned by the Cathay group. Shippers can use the Cathay and Air Hong Kong global freighter network at Hong Kong International Airport to move cargo arriving on HK Express belly space on to Europe, North America and other points, connecting the three tiers of capacity.
Dangerous goods are assessed under IATA DGR rules and small quantities of lithium batteries meeting exemption conditions are normally accepted. Heavily restricted dangerous goods need a per-shipment application, and no public information shows dry ice or radioactive material on regular flights.
E-commerce shipments and brand catalogues with low piece weight, high piece count and moderate transit suit HK Express narrowbody bellies; heavy pieces, large volumes and long-haul nonstop to Europe or North America suit Cathay widebody bellies. Both connect within the same bonded warehouse at Hong Kong International Airport.
From October to March load factors are high, belly volume is taken up by passenger baggage and space prices rise. Shippers should secure space one to two weeks before the peak so cargo is not refused at handover.
Low-cost belly space usually has a minimum chargeable weight of 45 kg, and smaller lots can be consolidated with other shippers. The seasonal booking confirmation and terminal acceptance rules govern.
Compiled by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited to describe belly cargo from mainland China to Hong Kong on HK Express (IATA: UO, ICAO: HKE) and how bookings are handled. Flight times, aircraft and space are subject to the airline's seasonal notices and terminal acceptance. Official HK Express information is available at hkexpress.com.
Contact: Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight). Our sales team handles mainland bookings, clearance and ground connections at Hong Kong International Airport. Trademark note: HK Express, Cathay Pacific, Air Hong Kong, A320 and A321 are trademarks of their respective owners; the information is industry description only and does not imply any equity, agency or licensing relationship with those airlines.