Budget carrier Hong Kong Express Airways (HK Express) has confirmed it will restart its Hong Kong–Ishigaki service at the start of the northern-summer timetable on 29 March, operating one daily round-trip with Airbus A320-family jets.(en.traicy.com) The leisure-focused route had been relaunched in April 2025 but was pulled again in October amid weak yen yields; demand has since rebounded thanks to a record influx of Hong Kong visitors to Japan over the winter ski season.
Flight UO812 will depart Hong Kong at 07:35, arriving on Ishigaki Island at 10:40, while the return leg UO813 leaves at 11:35 for a 12:50 arrival, offering convenient same-day connections onto Cathay Group long-haul departures. The airline will simultaneously boost its Okinawa/Naha frequency to three daily rotations, cementing its position as the leading low-cost link between Hong Kong and Japan’s southern resorts.
Whether you're a Hong Kong passport holder heading for Ishigaki or an international traveller transiting through the SAR, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) gives up-to-date guidance on Japanese visa rules and can even handle bulk applications for corporate or MICE groups, taking one more task off your pre-flight checklist.
![HK Express revives daily Ishigaki–Hong Kong flights from 29 March]()
For mobility managers the resumed service expands point-to-point options for MICE groups and high-value seafood exporters who favour Ishigaki’s proximity to Hong Kong (just over two hours’ flight time). It also diversifies risk after repeated weather-related closures at Naha in recent typhoon seasons.
Tour operators predict the additional capacity will shave 10-15 % off average Easter holiday fares. HK Express said it will keep introductory one-way economy fares below HK$500 before taxes for bookings made by 29 February, provided travellers join its reward-U loyalty scheme.
The move reflects a broader recovery strategy at parent Cathay Group, which is rebuilding its Japanese network to 130 % of pre-pandemic ASK capacity by year-end. Corporate travel buyers should review Japan fare caps in their 2026 budgets and consider shifting Okinawa traffic to Ishigaki where hotel ADRs remain 20 % lower than Naha.
Flight UO812 will depart Hong Kong at 07:35, arriving on Ishigaki Island at 10:40, while the return leg UO813 leaves at 11:35 for a 12:50 arrival, offering convenient same-day connections onto Cathay Group long-haul departures. The airline will simultaneously boost its Okinawa/Naha frequency to three daily rotations, cementing its position as the leading low-cost link between Hong Kong and Japan’s southern resorts.
Whether you're a Hong Kong passport holder heading for Ishigaki or an international traveller transiting through the SAR, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) gives up-to-date guidance on Japanese visa rules and can even handle bulk applications for corporate or MICE groups, taking one more task off your pre-flight checklist.
For mobility managers the resumed service expands point-to-point options for MICE groups and high-value seafood exporters who favour Ishigaki’s proximity to Hong Kong (just over two hours’ flight time). It also diversifies risk after repeated weather-related closures at Naha in recent typhoon seasons.
Tour operators predict the additional capacity will shave 10-15 % off average Easter holiday fares. HK Express said it will keep introductory one-way economy fares below HK$500 before taxes for bookings made by 29 February, provided travellers join its reward-U loyalty scheme.
The move reflects a broader recovery strategy at parent Cathay Group, which is rebuilding its Japanese network to 130 % of pre-pandemic ASK capacity by year-end. Corporate travel buyers should review Japan fare caps in their 2026 budgets and consider shifting Okinawa traffic to Ishigaki where hotel ADRs remain 20 % lower than Naha.
