Qantas is once again flying between Melbourne and Hong Kong

Following the return of non-stop seasonal flights from Perth to Rome over the weekend, Qantas is now shifting its attention to another rebounded service, lifting off between Melbourne and Hong Kong for the first time in three years from today.

Originally set to resume back on March 26, QF29/30’s restart was reportedly delayed by ground handling shortages and fee hikes at the once-thriving Asian hub, as indeed many airlines were at the time.

Complementing Qantas’ daily Sydney-Hong Kong service, the thrice-weekly A330 from Melbourne sees travellers jet off every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. After a quick turnaround, it then bounces back those same three days.

• QF29 departs Melbourne at 12:45pm, arriving into Hong Kong at 8:25pm.
• QF30 leaves Hong Kong at 9:55pm, touching down in Melbourne at 9:20am the next day.

Flights will increase to four times weekly from mid-July, with daily services on the cards from October.

Onboard, the A330 features 28 lie-flat seats in business class (read our review here), which should make the 9+ hour flight breeze by, particularly on the overnight leg to Victoria.

The David Caon-designed seat provides ample room to stretch out for the duration.

Of course, Qantas isn’t alone in offering non-stop flights between the cities. Its Oneworld partner Cathay Pacific is firmly in the game too, with the airline jetting off one to three times daily.

In Hong Kong, business class and lounge-worthy frequent flyers have access to the Red Roo’s recently-unlocked Qantas Hong Kong Lounge near Gate 5, which has seen a welcome (if unexpected) return after originally being flagged for a permanent closure.

Inside the QF lounge will be instantly familiar to anyone who had visited previously, with a subtle refresh to soft furnishings and warmer colour palette the most notable changes. The famous char siu BBQ pork bar has returned, while cook-to-order dishes and an extensive drinks list also deliver plenty of choice.   

Welcoming Oneworld travellers, Cathay’s nearby The Deck and The Wing business lounges are well worth a visit too, particularly if you’re in the mood for some delicious noodles. 

Are you headed to Hong Kong? Here’s how your Australian passport can be used to skip the immigration queues at Hong Kong Airport via the automated e-Channel lanes.