- Hong Kong Air Cargo has begun scheduled freighter services between Hong Kong and Athens, Greece, on 2 February 2026, the carrier has announced.
- The twice‑weekly flights mark a further expansion of the airline’s European network, bringing Athens into its scheduled cargo route map as the 14th destination.
Hong Kong Air Cargo (HKAC) has continued the expansion of its European network with the launch of new scheduled freighter services into the Eastern Mediterranean, announcing the introduction of regular cargo flights between Hong Kong and Larnaca, Cyprus, from 17 February 2026.
The Larnaca service follows the airline’s recent entry into Athens, Greece, where HKAC commenced twice-weekly scheduled freighter operations on 2 February 2026. Together, the two routes further strengthen the carrier’s European connectivity and position Athens as its 14th scheduled destination, while Larnaca becomes the airline’s 15th overall destination.
Strengthening access to the Mediterranean and Europe
The new Hong Kong–Larnaca (HKG–LCA) route will operate once weekly on Tuesdays, providing direct lift between Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean. The service enhances HKAC’s access to Mediterranean markets while supporting onward cargo flows into Southern Europe, the Middle East and surrounding regions.
Flight schedule (local time):
- RH396 – HKG to LCA: Departure 13:20, Arrival 21:45 (Tuesdays)
- RH397 – LCA to HKG: Departure 23:15, Arrival 15:35+1 (Tuesdays)
“This new connection strengthens our position in the Eastern Mediterranean and supports broader cargo access across Europe and nearby regions, offering customers dependable and efficient transport options,” the airline said. “We look forward to working closely with our partners as we expand our network across Asia and the Mediterranean.”
Continued European expansion driven by demand
HKAC’s expansion into Cyprus builds on a steady and deliberate growth strategy in Europe, largely driven by rising e-commerce volumes and demand for reliable long-haul freighter capacity. The carrier first entered the European market in October 2023 with services to Milan Malpensa, followed by the launch of flights to Liège in February 2024 and Oslo in September 2024.
The UK market has been a particular focus of HKAC’s European strategy. The airline launched services to London Stansted in February 2024, added Birmingham in October 2024, and further expanded with flights to Glasgow Prestwick in February 2025. Most recently, HKAC commenced operations at East Midlands Airport in November 2025, reinforcing its commitment to serving key UK cargo gateways.
The introduction of Athens and Larnaca further diversifies the airline’s European footprint, extending coverage into the Mediterranean while strengthening east–west trade connectivity.
Fleet growth to support network expansion
To support its expanding route network, HKAC has continued to invest in fleet capacity. In January 2026, the airline added an Airbus A330-200 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) aircraft, expanding its fleet to five A330-200 production freighters, all dry-leased from parent company Hong Kong Airlines.
In addition, HKAC operates an EFW-converted Airbus A330-300P2F on an ACMI lease, providing additional operational flexibility to support growth across Asia and Europe.
With its latest network additions and fleet expansion, Hong Kong Air Cargo continues to position itself as a growing freighter operator focused on Asia–Europe connectivity, offering scalable capacity and reliable service to meet evolving market demand.
