Hong Kong and Macau field just five home carriers, yet form one of Asia-Pacific's great transit gateways. Cathay's global network, HK Express's budget Japan/Korea routes and Air Macau's cross-strait niche often beat mainland nonstops on price, product or both.
All airlines
The Cathay group
Cathay Pacific (CX), a oneworld anchor, links five continents through HKIA and ranks perennially among the world's top ten; its home lounges (The Pier, The Wing) are world-class. After Cathay Dragon closed in 2020, regional flying passed to Cathay itself and to HK Express (UO), the group's LCC, whose Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia fares regularly drop to a few hundred HKD one-way.
Hong Kong Airlines, Greater Bay and Air Macau
Hong Kong Airlines (HX) offers full service below Cathay's price point across the mainland, Japan/Korea and Southeast Asia. Greater Bay Airlines (HB), flying since 2022, is scaling up a lean network centred on Japan, Korea and Thailand.
Air Macau (NX), controlled by Air China, is Macau's sole carrier and a specialist in cross-strait connections. Macau's compact airport means fast immigration, and fares to Taiwan and Southeast Asia frequently undercut Hong Kong — with the Zhuhai bridge right outside.
Transiting HKIA
Hong Kong International offers sterile transit (no visa needed), a 50-minute minimum connection and through-checked bags on single tickets. Overnight and dawn long-haul banks make red-eye connections cheap; mainland travellers transit on their travel document without an exit-endorsement when staying airside.
The HK/Macau price play
Ex-Hong Kong fares often diverge sharply from mainland pricing: business-class sales to Europe, North America and Australia are notably frequent, while HK Express and Greater Bay bare fares plus baggage can halve full-service pricing to Japan or Thailand. The reverse works too — train or ferry to Shenzhen/Zhuhai, then fly ex-HKG or ex-MFM, commonly saves 30%+ for travellers outside tier-one cities.
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need to transit Hong Kong?
A through ticket, your passport and the destination visa — no Hong Kong visa or mainland exit-endorsement is needed while staying airside.
Do Cathay and HK Express share baggage rules?
No. Cathay includes 1–2 x 23kg by fare; HK Express sells checked baggage separately as an LCC.
Is Air Macau worth it?
Frequently the cheapest full-service option to Taiwan and Southeast Asia, with short queues at MFM; the trade-off is thinner frequencies than Hong Kong.