30 May 2025

#5 May 2025: China Aviation Industry Newsletter

Cathay Pacific returns to Adelaide with a thrice-weekly winter seasonal service

Cathay Pacific announced the return of non-stop flights between Hong Kong and Adelaide, commencing 11 November 2025. The three-times-weekly winter seasonal service resumes an important connection between the airline’s home hub and the South Australian capital using three-class Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said:

“We are thrilled to be reconnecting our home hub with Adelaide, a bustling city that holds particular significance for Cathay Pacific. We first launched passenger flights to the South Australian capital in 1992, and then two years later our first batch of cadet pilots arrived in the city to complete their flight training, marking the start of our more than three-decade collaboration with Flight Training Adelaide.

With our return to Adelaide, we will be operating close to 90 return flights per week to eight destinations in the Southwest Pacific at the peak of this winter season, providing a great many choices for our customers travelling between the region and our home hub. Whether they are travelling for business, leisure or to visit friends and relatives, we look forward to welcoming customers onboard and experiencing our signature Cathay Pacific service.”

China Eastern Airlines launches Lanzhou–Kuala Lumpur route

Tourism Malaysia recently celebrated the launch of China Eastern Airlines’ new Lanzhou–Kuala Lumpur route, which will operate three times a week with an Airbus A320 featuring 156 seats. This new connection enhances tourism, strengthens bilateral cooperation, and boosts connectivity between Malaysia and China.

Lanzhou, a key economic hub in northwest China, is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, linking trade and travel hubs across Central Asia and Southeast Asia. The city is rapidly gaining popularity as a tourist destination, offering a wealth of attractions and experiences. Strategically located along the historic Silk Road, Lanzhou plays a crucial role in improving connectivity between China, Central Asia, and other countries, including Malaysia.

China Southern Airlines Logistics commences cargo flights to Glasgow Prestwick

Glasgow Prestwick Airport welcomed the first scheduled China Southern Air Logistics service on Friday, marking the first ever direct scheduled freighter service between China and Scotland. A new agreement between China Southern Air Logistics and Glasgow Prestwick Airport will see scheduled Boeing 777F cargo flights begin this month, starting at four flights a week and with plans to increase to a daily service.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport CEO, Ian Forgie said:

“This is welcome news. The airport team have been working hard over the last 12 months to showcase the Prestwick solution as an alternative Cargo Gateway into the UK, and the Board is delighted that a flagship carrier, China Southern Air Logistics, has established a scheduled service from China to Prestwick.

We anticipate this new trade route will grow rapidly in 2025 as Prestwick delivers on its plans and the market responds to an alternative Cargo Gateway into the UK and a new direct export route to China from Scotland for high-value Scottish seafood and whisky. We are in discussions with other airlines and expect to make further announcements soon.”

Acumen’s Take

On Cathay Pacific’s Return to Adelaide

Cathay’s re-entry into Adelaide strengthens its footprint in Australia at a time when demand for Asia–Southwest Pacific connectivity continues to recover. The strategic use of A350-900s reflects Cathay’s commitment to network flexibility and efficiency. This move also taps into a loyal diaspora, trade, and student traffic base while reaffirming long-standing ties with local pilot training pipelines in South Australia.

On China Eastern’s Lanzhou–Kuala Lumpur Launch

This new link underscores how secondary Chinese cities like Lanzhou are being actively integrated into broader Southeast Asian aviation networks, often in line with Belt and Road objectives. China Eastern’s continued regional expansion supports tourism and trade corridors beyond Tier 1 cities, creating diversified growth hubs that benefit from targeted infrastructure and policy support.

On China Southern’s Glasgow Freighter Ops

The Glasgow–China cargo link reflects the broader trend of carriers pivoting to underutilised European airports for cargo expansion amid slot congestion at major hubs. With capacity and 24/7 operations, Prestwick offers an attractive alternative gateway. The focus on seafood and whisky exports signals a high-yield, time-sensitive cargo strategy well suited for freighter operations, and the anticipated growth cements China Southern’s commitment to long-term EU–China trade corridors.
 

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