CATHAY PACIFIC: Return to servicing Hong Kong to Adelaide route three times a week for winter

Cathay Pacific is dusting off its Adelaide route, announcing a seasonal return to the South Australian capital with three flights a week between Hong Kong and Adelaide from 11 November 2025 through to 27 March 2026.

The service will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from Hong Kong (returning from Adelaide the following day) using Airbus A350-900s, featuring 38 Business Class reverse herringbone flatbeds, 28 Premium Economy and 214 in standard Economy seating.

Adelaide back on the map — for now

The seasonal service marks the airline’s eighth destination in the Southwest Pacific, joining its year-round routes to Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, and its winter seasonal flights to Cairns and Christchurch.

Adelaide holds sentimental value for Cathay Pacific thanks to its longstanding partnership with Flight Training Adelaide, which has hosted Cathay cadets since 1994.

“We’ll be operating close to 90 return flights per week to eight destinations in the Southwest Pacific at the peak of this winter season.”

Lavinia Lau, Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer

A cautious comeback

Cathay’s return to Adelaide is more of a toe back in the water than a full plunge. The route, which disappeared during the pandemic, is seasonal only, suggesting the airline is testing demand before committing to year-round operations.

The timing also makes sense. South Australia’s summer months align with Hong Kong’s winter travel season, when outbound leisure demand spikes. Add in the A350’s cargo belly capacity, and the route starts to look commercially tidy.

Network rebuild continues

The move forms part of a wider Cathay Group expansion, which will see the carrier and its low-cost sibling HK Express add 16 destinations in 2025. This includes newly launched flights to Hyderabad, Dallas and Urumqi, with Rome, Munich, Brussels and now Adelaide joining later this year.

By mid-2025, the Cathay Group expects to be serving 100 passenger destinations worldwide, a figure not far off its pre-pandemic footprint.

Schedule at a glance (11 November 2025 – 27 March 2026)

The route will be flown using an Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with flat beds in Business, Premium and Economy cabins

Route	Flight	Departure	Arrival	Days
Hong Kong → Adelaide	CX173	23:30	10:30+1	Tue, Thu, Sat
Adelaide → Hong Kong	CX174	12:00	17:40	Wed, Fri, Sun

2PAXfly Takeout

Adding more direct international travel options for Adelaide is always welcome. However three days a week for only a few months seems a tentative start to test demand.

Pricing is average, with Economy costing around AU$1,400 and Business costing AU$4,500. I’d keep an eye on this pricing in case some bargains appear. If demand is not as expected, you may see some discounting. If you are travelling from the eastern state capitals, repositioning to Adelaide for your Hong Kong flight might be advantageous.

The daytime timing of the flights out of Adelaide is ideal, arriving in Hong Kong in the early evening. The return, leaving Hong Kong just before midnight and flying overnight to Adelaide, is not so great.