Jeanette Mao, CEO of HK Express, guided us through the low-cost carrier’s (LCC) meteoric ascent during a lively “CEO 123 Tell Me More” talk on 9 July.
She also unpacked the crucial role of LCCs in driving Hong Kong’s economic transformation, and reflected on her career in Hong Kong’s aviation industry after arriving as a scholarship student from Shanghai.
With its “Gotta Go!” credo, HK Express (owned by Cathay Pacific) served over six million passengers last year – a 40% increase year-on-year. The goal? To become Asia’s best LCC. The data speaks for itself: HK Express was ranked the world’s fastest-growing airline in 2024 by OAG, as well as one of the world’s best LCCs in February 2025.
“The key is cost efficiency,” Jeanette explained. “The idea is to offer our customers value for money through affordable fares and seamless air travel, while pioneering routes to new destinations.”
She highlighted future opportunities for the city, thanks to Hong Kong International Airport’s three-runway system, as well as the burgeoning demand for wider connectivity across the Mainland and the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
She also shared an eye-opening statistic: “One of four passengers is from the GBA,” Jeanette revealed, pointing to the uniqueness of the demand driven by the relatively young demographic that shows a preference for red-eye weekend flights that don’t disrupt their work week.
On the operational front, the airline introduced nine new routes in 2024 and added 11 more destinations this year. It now serves 13 locations in Japan, five in Korea and several in Southeast Asia. This includes Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam, embodying the principle of not just following demand but creating it.
Looking back on her extensive career in aviation, Jeanette recounted an extraordinary memory of arriving in Hong Kong in 1998 – after a 28-hour railway journey from Shanghai as part of a group of undergraduate students awarded the prestigious Hong Kong Jockey Club scholarship.
She also shared how she opted for the most difficult course – computer science – as a student at the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, then challenged herself further by pairing it with a minor in mathematics. The result? Achieving first-class honours and securing a coveted position at Cathay Pacific.
Discussing how she balances career and family life, Jeanette acknowledged that long hours on the job sometimes mean missing precious moments with her two young children. But there’s a silver lining: her trailblazing role as a strong female leader has already sparked big dreams in one of her girls, who now aspires to be a CEO someday.