Steven Yiu, formerly Executive Director of Airport Operations, has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Cissy Chan, Executive Director of Commercial, has taken up a concurrent new appointment as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IEC Holdings Limited, AAHK’s subsidiary that oversees the SKYTOPIA business. 

Both report directly to AAHK’s CEO, and the appointments take effect on 1 October 2026. 

As COO, Yiu will lead the Airport Management Division and the Cargo and Logistics Division. He will be responsible for managing and driving excellence across HKIA’s core airport operations, including safety, customer service, cargo operations, and development, among others.

Chan will continue to lead the Commercial Division, overseeing airport retail and HKIA’s land and property portfolio. As CEO of IEC Holdings, she will spearhead SKYTOPIA’s various projects, including 11 SKIES, aimed to develop into a leading entertainment hub, and the Airport Yacht Bay, the largest facility of its kind in Hong Kong.

AAHK CEO Vivian Cheung said: “I would like to congratulate Steven and Cissy on their new appointments. Both have delivered outstanding results over the years and contributed to HKIA’s worldwide recognition as one of the best airports. Their appointments and expanded portfolios reflect our full confidence in their leadership. They will continue to drive the key developments at HKIA, reinforcing our position as the hub of Asia.”

Yiu joined AAHK in 1995 and was appointed Executive Director, Airport Operations, in 2022, overseeing planning and operations across HKIA. 

Chan was appointed as Executive Director, Commercial of AAHK in September 2012. She brought to the airport a wealth of management experience gained from local and multinational corporations, particularly in partnership development, negotiation and managing commercial alliances. 

(Source: AAHK)

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The new route connects Hong Kong directly to Hefei Xinqiao International Airport (HFE), with four weekly flights scheduled Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. The A320neo assigned to the route has a flight time of two hours and 30 minutes.

In a press statement, the airline said the new service will significantly improve travel convenience between Hong Kong and Anhui Province without requiring connections or high-speed rail transfers from nearby hubs like Nanjing or Shanghai.

Round-trip “Ultra Lite” fares on the route will start at HKD77, while round-trip “Lite” fares start at HKD99, including one Small Personal Item and one cabin Baggage

The booking period for the introductory fares remains open until 4 October 2026, with travel allowed from 3 December 2026 to 27 March 2027 on the official HK Express website or the HK Express mobile app.

Flight schedule

UO270 departs Hong Kong (HKG) at 1135 and arrives in Hefei (HFE) at 1405.
UO271 departs Hefei (HFE) at 1500 and arrives in Hong Kong (HKG) at 1735.

Visa requirements

Unilateral Visa-Free Policy: Citizens holding ordinary passports from an expanding list of countries (including many European nations and Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea) can enter Mainland China visa-free for up to 15 or 30 days for tourism or transit.

Visa-Free (240-Hour / 144-Hour): Hefei Xinqiao International Airport (HFE) participates in China’s extended Visa-Free Transit Scheme for passport holders of around 54 eligible countries.

Best Time to Visit

Autumn (September – November): The best season to visit. Temperatures are mild (18°C – 25°C), weather is dry, and park foliage is colourful.

Winter (December – February): Chilly with occasional light snow (temperatures hovering around 0°C to 8°C). Keep warm layers ready if travelling on the December flight route.

Spring (March – May): Mild and pleasant, with blooming gardens around the Hefei Botanical Garden.

Attractions & Highlights

Sanhe Ancient Town: A 2,500-year-old water town about an hour south of central Hefei, known for its classic Hui-style architecture, narrow stone alleys, ancient bridges, and local snacks.

Bao Zheng Memorial / Lord Bao Park: Dedicated to Bao Zheng (Judge Bao), the famous Northern Song dynasty official known for his incorruptibility and justice. The tranquil park features his temple, tomb, and the Clear Breeze Tower.

Anhui Museum: Excellent for history buffs, showcasing thousands of Anhui cultural relics, bronze items, and historical Hui architecture displays.

Chaohu Lake & Swan Lake: Chaohu Lake is one of China’s five largest freshwater lakes. For modern leisure, Swan Lake in the New District offers illuminated cityscapes and parks.

Gateway to Huangshan (Yellow Mountain): Hefei serves as a convenient transit point for exploring broader Anhui Province, with frequent high-speed trains running directly to Huangshan in under two hours.

(Source: HK Express)

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The show is back for its third edition, building on the last two successful years that drew audiences from Hong Kong and an expanding base of visitors from the Greater Bay Area, Asia, and beyond, whose share of the audience has grown 75% since the show’s first year.

Tickets are now available via HK Ticketing, Klook and 01Space, allowing fans to secure access to the best seats at the city’s global meeting point.

Major highlights at LHKIHS

LHKIHS is supported by partners who share the passion for bringing world-class sport and lifestyle together, including Title Sponsor Longines. The Swiss watchmaker and a global leader in precision timekeeping also returns as the Official Timekeeper and Official Watch of LHKIHS.

The show is further strengthened by partners: The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC); Official Equine Transport and Founding Partner, Cathay Cargo; Founding Partner, the Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China; Major Partner, the AsiaWorld‑Expo; and Dog Agility Sponsor, Airport Authority Hong Kong.

The prestigious five international showjumping classes across the three‑day programme will deliver high‑stakes, thrilling competitions, with top‑tier international athletes and horses competing at the highest level. 

In 2027, alongside the five classes, the competitive line-up will also include the Hong Kong Jockey Club Asia Pacific Youth Challenge, where young riders from across the region come together in a final to compete for the top prize. Returning by popular demand are the Shetland Pony Grand National and Airport Authority Hong Kong Presents: Hong Kong Dog Agility competition, combining high‑energy competition with light‑hearted entertainment and promising a memorable, captivating experience for spectators of all ages.

Visit the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show website to learn more and to stay updated on the latest event schedule and ticketing details: https://www.hongkonghorseshow.com/ 

(Source: LHKIHS)

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The expansion comes amid continued momentum for Hong Kong’s MICE sector, with the city welcoming 2.51 million MICE visitors in 2025, up seven per cent year-on-year. It also follows strong growth for FCM’s own M&E business across Greater China, which nearly doubled year on year in FY26.

FCM Meetings & Events supports clients across the event lifecycle, with services spanning venue sourcing, event and group travel, managed meetings and event management. Its teams manage events ranging from conferences and incentive trips to product launches, awards ceremonies and networking events, supported by technology and data to give businesses greater visibility and control over their M&E programmes. 

As part of the expansion, FCM has appointed Peter Chau as Meetings & Events Manager, Hong Kong, effective 1 September 2026. Chau brings more than 30 years of MICE experience.

FCM Meetings & Events Leader, Asia, Manpreet Bindra said the expansion reflects both the opportunity FCM sees in Hong Kong and the growing importance businesses place on bringing people together with purpose.

“Hong Kong continues to strengthen its position as one of Asia’s leading business events hubs, and we see significant opportunity for FCM in this market.

“Businesses are becoming more intentional about how and why they bring people together and increasingly expect their meetings and events to deliver tangible value. With Peter on board, we’re well positioned to bring our services to a broader client base in Hong Kong, backed by his deep local expertise and our capabilities across Greater China and globally,” said Bindra.

Chau’s experience spans programmes across Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and Oceania, with expertise in client management, supplier coordination and on-the-ground event delivery. His industry recognition includes being named a Switzerland M.I.C.E. Specialist by Switzerland Tourism in 2017 and receiving an Individual Award from the Taiwan Tourism Bureau in 2015.

“I’m excited to join FCM and be part of the expansion of our Meetings & Events business in Hong Kong,” said Chau. “I look forward to working closely with clients to understand what they want to achieve and drawing on my experience to deliver events that meet their business objectives and create a lasting impact.”

(Source: FCM Travel)

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Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau commented: “Driven by robust travel demand during the second half of the summer peak and healthy cargo demand across key markets,  our passenger airlines Cathay Pacific and HK Express together achieved a new record by carrying more than 3.6 million passengers during the month, up 4% year on year. 

Meanwhile, Cathay Cargo carried over 150,000 tonnes of cargo, 9% more than the same period last year.”

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific carried 5% more passengers in August 2026 compared with August 2025, while Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) increased by 3%. In the first eight months of 2026, the number of passengers carried rose 15% compared with the same period in 2025.

Lau said: “The robust demand we saw in July continued into August. ​ Leisure travel remained resilient throughout the month, particularly from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland to various short-haul destinations in our network. We also saw strong student traffic to North America and the United Kingdom towards the end of the month ahead of the start of the new school year. Looking ahead, while September is typically a quieter month for travel, demand is expected to pick up closer to the National Day ‘Golden Week’ holiday period.”

Cathay Cargo

Cathay Cargo carried 150,000 tonnes of cargo, a 9% increase in August 2026 when compared with August 2025, while Available Freight Tonne Kilometres (AFTKs) increased by 1%. In the first eight months of 2026, the total tonnage increased by 8% compared with the same period for 2025.

HK Express

HK Express carried more than 790,000 passengers in August 2026, down 1% year on year, while Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) rose 3%. In the first eight months of 2026, the number of passengers carried increased by 8% compared with the same period for 2025.

Lau noted: “HK Express’s Chinese Mainland routes remained particularly popular in August, with overall load factor for the Chinese Mainland reaching 90% despite capacity growth. Our newly launched direct service to Wuxi continues to be well received by customers, contributing positively to our Chinese Mainland network’s performance. Looking at September, as expected, travel demand has softened following the summer peak; we remain focused on stimulating demand and leveraging the strength of our network.”

(Source: Cathay Group)

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Passenger volume exceeded 210,000 on 1 August, marking the highest daily passenger traffic during the summer travel peak this year, excluding days affected by flight rescheduling due to adverse weather. Transfer/ transit passengers continued to drive overall passenger growth in August, recording a double-digit increase. Growth was mainly led by traffic with the Chinese Mainland and South Korea, while the decline in the Middle East moderated further.

In the first eight months of the year, passenger volume grew by 10.1% year on year to 44.3 million, while flight movements increased by 3.5% year on year to 269,900. On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volume rose by 11.4% year on year to 65 million, while flight movements increased by 4.5% to 403,850.

Cargo volume declined by 1.2% year on year to 422,000 tonnes in August 2026. Exports declined by 8.8% year on year, partially offset by 18.2% growth in transshipments and 3.6% growth in imports. Among key trading regions, Southeast Asia and the Chinese Mainland remained resilient, helping to cushion softer traffic with Europe and the Middle East amid evolving regional trade dynamics.

From January to August this year, cargo traffic recorded year-on-year growth of 17% in the Chinese Mainland, 14% in Southeast Asia and 8% in Europe, offsetting declines in North America and the Middle East. Total cargo throughput over the eight months increased by 2.6% year on year to 3.34 million tonnes. On a 12-month rolling basis, total cargo traffic reached over 5.15 million tonnes, up 2.7% year on year.

(Source: HKIA).

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ACI APAC & MID presented three discussion papers to the conference. Its joint paper with the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) assessed airport and airspace capacity. Other recommendations called for modernising airport slot policies and highlighted practical programmes and tools to help airports strengthen climate resilience and advance towards Net Zero.

Key outcomes

Airport and Airspace Capacity: The DGCA Conference supported the partnership between ACI APAC & MID and CANSO, which aims to assess airport and ATM capacities in the region and whether these capacities will meet future traffic growth. This initiative highlights the need to expand, optimise, and improve airport and air traffic management (ATM) capacity in tandem. This collaboration is strategically important as the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions prepare for significant growth in air travel.

Airport Slot Policy: ACI APAC & MID highlighted the importance of maintaining the fundamental principles of the airport slot allocation framework while improving its efficiency and effectiveness. The conference encouraged States to continue stakeholder discussions to improve slot allocation efficiency.

Climate Action: States and Administrations are encouraged to recommend that their airports participate in the ACI APAC & MID Net Zero Roadmap and use the complimentary Climate Risk Maturity Check Tool and Climate Risk Assessment Tool to strengthen preparedness and long-term resilience. This paper received support from various States, particularly the Pacific Island States. 

Commenting on the outcomes,  ACI APAC & MID Director General Stefano Baronci said: “Asia-Pacific and the Middle East continue to be the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets. Meeting this growth will require close cooperation between governments, regulators and industry to ensure that airport infrastructure, airspace capacity and policy frameworks evolve in step with demand. As a voice of airports, we are pleased to bring the airport perspective to these discussions and support practical policies that enhance capacity, operational efficiency and airport climate action across the sector.”

Additionally, through Information Papers, ACI APAC & MID highlighted key challenges and priorities for the region’s airports:

Airport Security and Facilitation: Addressed the operational challenges facing airport security amid rapid traffic growth and the need to ensure that security and facilitation measures keep pace with rising passenger demand.

The State of the Asia-Pacific Airport Industry: Examined the region’s airport industry, highlighting traffic growth, financial pressures and the need for continued infrastructure investment to meet future demand.

(Source: ACI)

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Cathay Pacific is Google’s first commercial airline partner in Asia-Pacific to trial its AI-powered contrail mitigation technology, and the first airline globally to test contrail avoidance on ultra-long-haul flights. 

The companies have started trials to evaluate the operational feasibility and constraints of contrail avoidance across Cathay Pacific’s extensive global network. The trials will contribute valuable new data to global contrail research and advance understanding of contrail formation and avoidance in the Asia-Pacific region, which has been underrepresented in previous trials. The real-world data gathered through the trial would help the industry better understand the climate benefits of contrail avoidance in actual operational environments.

The thin white lines that sometimes form behind aircraft in the sky are known as contrails, or condensation trails. They form when aircraft fly through certain cold, humid conditions at high altitude. While many disappear quickly, some persist and spread into broader cloud formations that can trap heat in the atmosphere. 

Previous research suggests these persistent contrails could account for around one-third of aviation’s total climate impact, making them an important area of study alongside carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.

Cathay recognises aviation’s contribution to climate change and is working to address climate impacts through multiple approaches. Reducing CO₂ emissions remains a primary focus for Cathay through fleet modernisation, operational efficiency improvements and the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). At the same time, the airline recognises the importance of growing scientific understanding of non-CO₂ climate effects, including contrails. 

Through this partnership, Cathay Pacific and Google are supporting contrail research using real-world operational data from flight trials. The insights will help build further understanding of the impact and possible actions airlines can take against individual contrails, while exploring how contrail avoidance could be implemented and managed at scale across the aviation industry.

AI in the cockpit shows encouraging early results

Google’s contrail mitigation solution combines AI-based predictive models, satellite imagery detection tools, and extensive weather intelligence to forecast contrail-forming zones. This actionable data allows flight dispatchers and pilots to make informed altitude adjustments, navigating around these zones much like they routinely do to avoid turbulence.

Onboard, Cathay Pacific leverages its modernised fleet capabilities, combining in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity with its proprietary, in-house developed Electronic Flight Folder (EFF). The EFF system equips pilots with dynamic Google contrail forecasts alongside real-time operational parameters, enabling seamless decision-making in the cockpit without disrupting normal operations.

An operational trial began in late 2025, with more than 100 flights targeted across Cathay Pacific’s network. Over 80 flights followed contrail-avoidance routes[1], and Google estimates that these flights achieved roughly a 40% reduction in the warming impact of contrails.

The Hong Kong-Singapore corridor was one of the routes tested, as flights in this airspace frequently encounter conditions where persistent contrails form. Early analysis indicates that minor altitude adjustments can successfully prevent contrails, with actions taken on this single route accounting for more than 50% of the trial’s total climate impact.

Cathay Director Digital and IT Lawrence Fong said: “Aviation needs solutions to address climate change, and AI is accelerating that progress. This partnership combines Cathay’s operational expertise with Google’s world-class AI capabilities to tackle complex sustainability challenges at scale. At Cathay, we believe innovation should deliver tangible and meaningful impact, and this collaboration sets a new benchmark for leadership in our industry.”

Google Hong Kong Managing Director and General Manager, Michael Yue, said: “At Google, we believe AI has the power to help address complex environmental challenges, and our partnership with Cathay Pacific is a prime example of this in action—researching how predictive AI can be deployed in live operations to help address the climate impact of contrails with today’s aircraft and today’s fuel. This work reflects our ongoing commitment to developing sustainable solutions that deliver lasting impact, and we’re excited to expand our trial with Cathay Pacific and continue contributing to open climate science together.”

Shaping the future of aviation

The initial trial provided valuable experience integrating predictive AI data into live flight planning to support contrail avoidance at flight level, while bringing together the operational and technical stakeholders needed to make such trials possible. While the partnership delivered encouraging results on individual flights, further trials and research are needed to assess the benefits of applying contrail avoidance measures across airlines and airspaces. Such robust scientific evidence will enable further industry considerations and policy development by airlines, regulators, and other industry players.

Therefore, the partners are embarking on a larger second phase of flight trials to generate a broader set of real-world operational data and further insights across Cathay Pacific’s Asia and transpacific network. Contrails.org, a nonprofit initiative dedicated to advancing the science of contrail mitigation, is also a partner in the project. The ongoing partnership aims to generate a robust operational dataset to further scientific understanding of contrail avoidance and inform future industry best practices.

(Source: Cathay Pacific)

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According to the listing application materials, ClubMed Lifestyle Group operates premium all-inclusive resorts under the Club Med brand.

It also expands its vacation offerings, including Integrated Vacation Destinations and Cultural-Tourism Complexes through an asset-light model, as it continues to build diversified vacation lifestyles.

Club Med is the core brand of ClubMed Lifestyle Group. According to the listing application materials, Club Med was the world’s largest all-inclusive resort brand by revenue in 2025, ranking first in both Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia-Pacific. By number of resorts in 2025, Club Med is also the world’s largest mountain and ski resort brand.

To date, Club Med has established a global sales network spanning six continents and more than 40 countries and regions. It operates 69 premium resorts worldwide across a diverse range of destinations, including mountain and ski locations and sun-and-beach destinations. It is also the only resort brand with a presence in all four of the world’s major ski destinations.

According to the listing application materials, ClubMed Lifestyle Group’s revenue increased from EUR1.86 billion in 2023 to EUR1.95 billion in 2025, while gross profit rose from EUR540 million to EUR590 million. Adjusted EBITDA reached EUR390 million in 2025, with the adjusted EBITDA margin rising to 20.2% in 2025.

In 2026, Club Med was named to TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential Companies in the world, becoming the only hotel and resort brand included that year.

ClubMed Lifestyle Group is expanding its vacation offerings through an asset-light model as it continues to build diversified vacation lifestyles. In terms of market size, the global vacation lifestyle market is expected to grow from USD2.5 trillion in 2025 to USD3.5 trillion in 2030.

Proceeds from the proposed listing will fund the expansion and upgrade of its global resort business.

(Source: Fosun)

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With core cities like Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, the GBA remains an economic powerhouse. Its GDP of USD2.15 trillion makes it the world’s 10^th-largest economy. At the same time, Hong Kong, home to 40% of the GBA’s high-net-worth families (RMB10 million+), alone spent USD30.3 billion on outbound travel in 2025, with residents making 15.7 departures per capita annually.

ITE2026 – the 40^th anniversary edition – featured 602 exhibitors from 69 countries/regions and drew 8,442 trade buyers (20% from Guangdong, 16% from other Chinese provinces and 17% from other Asian markets). Trade visitors included 54% travel agents and 22% MICE professionals. Public attendance exceeded 74,000 frequent and affluent travellers: 75% took multiple holidays in 2025 and 63% plan higher travel budgets in 2026.

Pre- and post-show online interest was strong: 881,102 visits to ITE’s trade website www.itehk.com from March to July 2026 – peaking at 290,670 in June.

ITE’s B2B programme includes Business Matching (buyers seated by markets, exhibitors come to them), KOL networking sessions, and rentable in-hall meeting rooms for hosting workshops or presentations. The B2C programme features over 100 seminars and themed displays.

(Source: ITE Hong Kong)

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