Hong Kong Airlines receives approval for Zagreb flights – what it means

Hong Kong Airlines’ approval to operate flights to Zagreb has again attracted media attention today, with aviation portal EX-YU Aviation News and Poslovni Puls among the outlets reporting on the development and the potential for a new direct flight.

So what does it all mean?

Hong Kong Airlines has received regulatory approval to operate scheduled flights between Hong Kong and Zagreb, although the airline has not announced plans to launch the route.

The Hong Kong government confirmed back in May this year that the Air Transport Licensing Authority had approved a variation to the airline’s operating licence. The amended licence includes Zagreb among the destinations Hong Kong Airlines is authorised to serve from Hong Kong International Airport, with flights permitted at unlimited frequency.

The approval is valid until 24 March 2028, according to the official announcement issued by Hong Kong’s Transport and Logistics Bureau on behalf of the licensing authority.

The decision allows the airline to operate scheduled services carrying passengers, cargo and mail on the authorised routes.

However, regulatory approval does not mean that flights to Zagreb are confirmed. No launch date, timetable or ticket sales for a Hong Kong–Zagreb service have been announced by the airline in the official information reviewed.

What the approval means for Zagreb

The decision provides Hong Kong Airlines with the regulatory authorisation needed under Hong Kong’s licensing system to operate scheduled services on the listed route.

The Air Transport Licensing Authority is an independent statutory body responsible for granting, revoking or suspending licences for scheduled air services carrying passengers, cargo or mail for commercial purposes.

Zagreb’s inclusion in the amended licence creates the possibility of a direct air connection between Croatia and Hong Kong, subject to the airline’s commercial plans and any other applicable operating requirements.

A direct service could provide an additional travel option for passengers travelling between Croatia and Asia, while potentially supporting tourism, business travel and air cargo links.

However, the practical impact will depend on whether Hong Kong Airlines decides to introduce the route and, if so, how frequently it operates.

No confirmed flight schedule yet

The Hong Kong government’s published decision specifies that the permitted frequency is unlimited, but this refers to the regulatory authorisation rather than a commitment to operate a particular number of flights.

The official notice does not specify a start date for services, departure times or a flight schedule.

Hong Kong Airlines has therefore secured permission to serve Zagreb under the amended licence, but the route’s launch remains unconfirmed.

The distinction is important: approval establishes that the route is authorised within the airline’s Hong Kong licensing arrangements, not that flights have been scheduled or will necessarily commence.