Hong Kong Airlines Panda Friends Special Livery Aircraft Continues to Win Global Praise as Flying Conservation Ambassador Showcasing Hong Kong’s Sustainability Vision, Ocean Partnership and Tourism Appeal Worldwide

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Since its launch in mid-March this year, the Panda Friends special livery aircraft—created through a collaboration between Hong Kong Airlines and Ocean Park—has received an enthusiastic global response from travellers. Acting as a flying ambassador for Hong Kong’s conservation message, the aircraft has been sharing the city’s environmental storytelling and sustainability values with international audiences while highlighting the wider appeal of Hong Kong tourism.

Building on this success, Hong Kong Airlines has now introduced an upgraded range of Panda Friends-inspired cabin interiors along with specially designed bespoke onboard elements aimed at enhancing the overall passenger experience and further strengthening the aircraft’s themed journey concept.

Hong Kong Airlines has introduced a fresh collection of in-flight collectibles, unveiled as part of a themed aircraft experience operating on its Chengdu route — the birthplace of the giant panda. The initiative brings a creative aviation-thematic concept to life, allowing passengers to experience the journey alongside six Hong Kong giant pandas presented in a more immersive and visually expressive form.

To mark the launch of the Panda Friends-themed aircraft, Hong Kong Airlines and Ocean Park hosted a special preview flight event that drew a high-profile gathering of officials and industry leaders. Among those in attendance were the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Rosanna Law, alongside the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Raistlin Lau. Senior representation from the Transport and Logistics Bureau was also present through Under Secretary Liu Chun-san. Aviation leadership was represented by Vivian Cheung, Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Authority Hong Kong. From the corporate side, Hong Kong Airlines was represented by Chairman Bruce Wang, President Jeff Sun, while Ocean Park Corporation was represented by Chairman Paulo Pong and Chief Executive Officer Ivan Wong. The occasion highlighted a coordinated showcase between aviation, tourism, and cultural branding stakeholders.

The aircraft livery itself has been designed as a storytelling canvas, integrating Ocean Park’s well-known intellectual property characters, including An An, Ke Ke, Ying Ying, and Le Le, together with Hong Kong’s locally born giant panda twins, Jia Jia and De De. The creative concept positions all six pandas as symbolic travel ambassadors. In the visual narrative, the pandas are depicted departing Ocean Park equipped with travel essentials such as passports and cameras, symbolising curiosity, exploration, and global connectivity.

As part of the broader thematic experience, the pandas are portrayed travelling aboard flights like international tourists, engaging passengers in a playful and culturally rich journey. This approach strengthens Hong Kong’s positioning in experiential tourism and aviation branding by blending wildlife conservation storytelling with modern airline marketing innovation. The Chengdu route adds further symbolic depth, connecting Hong Kong’s panda programme with the species’ most recognised origin city.

Overall, the initiative reflects a growing trend in aviation where airlines are increasingly using themed aircraft, cultural IP collaborations, and immersive storytelling to enhance passenger engagement and strengthen destination branding across key regional routes.

Miss Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, “The Culture, Sports and
Tourism Bureau has been leading Ocean Park, together with various sectors of the community,
to unleash creativity and capitalise on Hong Kong’s advantage of being the place outside the

Chinese Mainland with the largest number of giant pandas, and roll out more giant panda-
themed activities and products. The Panda Friends painted passenger aircraft is a successful

example: the Hong Kong giant panda family serves as tourism ambassadors showcasing Hong
Kong’s unique charm to the world, attracting visitors from across the globe, and boosting
development of the tourism industry.”

Mr Liu Chun-san, Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics, said, “Hong Kong Airlines has all
along been committed to contributing to Hong Kong’s aviation industry, striving to continually
innovate and pursue creative breakthroughs in attracting travellers. This collaboration with
Ocean Park seamlessly integrates beloved local cultural and tourism features into the entire
journey, from check-in and the lounge experience to the cabin interior, injecting vibrant new
energy into our aviation services and significantly enhancing the unique appeal to global
travellers. The deployment of this themed aircraft to Chengdu, the home of giant pandas, today
vividly demonstrates the close connectivity between Hong Kong International Airport and the
country’s regional gateway hubs. Coupled with Hong Kong Airlines’ recent relocation to the
brand-new Terminal 2 with a youthful and energetic appeal, such innovative cross-sectoral
collaboration not only upgrades the passenger travel experience, but also injects new impetus
into consolidating and elevating Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub.”

Mr Bruce Wang, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Hong Kong Airlines, said: “Giant pandas
symbolise warmth, connection and cultural exchange — values that resonate deeply with Hong
Kong, a city that has long stood at the crossroads of East and West. This one-of-a-kind panda
livery aircraft is a ‘calling card of Hong Kong in the skies’. It signifies that beyond our core mission
of passenger and cargo transportation, Hong Kong Airlines also serves as a bridge of exchange,
carrying the culture and values of our city to the world, while embodying the warmth and vitality
that define our brand.”
He continues: “To elevate this experience further, we have meticulously crafted every passenger
touchpoint — from the boarding pass to the headrest cover, from the cabin ceiling to the cup in
your hand — transforming the six Hong Kong giant pandas into the most heart-warming travel
companions and creating a multi-sensory journey of ‘sight, touch and feeling’ that begins the
moment passengers step on board. As the aircraft progressively reaches our network
destinations, this charming team of ‘ambassadors in the sky’ will travel beyond borders,
departing from Hong Kong to share the city’s charm and conservation stories with travellers
across the world’s leading destinations — while reminding passengers to protect our ecosystem
and these national treasures whenever they travel. This is our way of fulfilling our mission to
connect the world through a uniquely Hong Kong story.”
Mr Paulo Pong, Chairman of the Board of Ocean Park Corporation, said: “We are absolutely
delighted to announce the full launch of this cross-sector collaboration. With the aircraft now in
full service, the charm of our Panda Friends IP extends seamlessly from the livery into the cabin
interior. Through meticulously designed cabin decorations, themed food and beverage offerings
and exclusive merchandise, we are creating an all-encompassing, immersive panda-themed
experience for passengers. This partnership not only takes Ocean Park’s conservation mission to
the skies, but also transforms our six immensely popular giant pandas into international tourism
ambassadors. Together, they will showcase the unique charm of Hong Kong’s giant pandas to
travellers from around the globe, while inspiring collective support for giant panda conservation.”

Both partners expressed their sincere gratitude to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Airport Authority Hong Kong for their strong backing of the initiative. The collaboration uses the global popularity of giant pandas as a central storytelling theme, aiming to strengthen international awareness of panda conservation while also encouraging more families and younger travellers to choose Hong Kong as a destination. The campaign invites passengers to fly with Hong Kong Airlines, experience its specially designed panda-themed aircraft, and continue their journey at Ocean Park, where wildlife conservation, education, and entertainment come together within the city’s diverse cultural and natural landscape.

An Immersive Journey That Starts Before Take-off

The panda concept has been designed as a full sensory experience that begins the moment the journey is planned and continues throughout the entire flight.

The boarding pass itself is reimagined as a playful introduction to the experience, featuring six lively panda characters in charming poses. This design turns a routine travel document into a memorable keepsake that appeals to both children and adults, setting the tone for the journey ahead.

Inside the cabin, the theme continues overhead, where the ceiling and luggage compartments are decorated with artistic representations of An An, Ke Ke, Ying Ying, Le Le, Jia Jia, and De De. These visual elements transform the aircraft interior into a dynamic panda-inspired space, encouraging passengers to capture moments and engage with the environment from every angle.

Seat comfort elements have also been redesigned, with headrest covers featuring custom panda illustrations. These soft-touch details are intended to enhance comfort while creating a visual impression of being gently embraced by the panda theme throughout the flight.

Onboard Service Reimagined Through Themed Design

The inflight experience extends the narrative through carefully integrated service elements. Catering trolleys have been updated with a dedicated Panda Friends design, allowing the characters to appear as part of the service flow as meals and refreshments are delivered along the aisle. This creates a continuous sense of movement and storytelling throughout the cabin experience.

Even the smallest details have been aligned with the concept. Paper cups and onboard dining items carry panda-themed illustrations, adding a subtle visual layer that turns everyday service moments into light, engaging interactions.

Beyond the Cabin: A Themed Experience at the Airport Lounge

The experience does not end onboard. At Club Autus, Hong Kong Airlines’ exclusive lounge at Hong Kong International Airport, guests are welcomed by a specially curated multimedia panda installation. The display combines thematic visuals with digital screens to present a calm, immersive window into the world of giant pandas at Ocean Park.

This installation is designed to provide a moment of relaxation within the airport environment, while also reinforcing awareness of ongoing panda conservation efforts. It bridges the gap between travel and environmental storytelling in a reflective and visually engaging manner.

Limited-Edition Collectibles Inspired by the Journey

To extend the experience beyond travel, Hong Kong Airlines has developed a range of collectible items in collaboration with Ocean Park. Each product has been carefully designed with attention to detail in materials, craftsmanship, and presentation.

The collection includes die-cast aircraft models in different scales, surprise blind-box cabin crew figurines, themed eye masks, pilot and crew-style luggage tags, and aviation-inspired keychains. These items are intended to serve as meaningful memorabilia that capture the essence of the panda-themed journey.

Rather than simple merchandise, these collectibles function as lasting reminders of the travel experience. When passengers return home, these items evoke memories of their flight, the panda-themed environment, and their connection to Hong Kong’s unique cultural identity.

Two Decades of Growth and Global Connectivity

This launch coincides with the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong Airlines, marking an important milestone in the company’s development. Since its establishment in 2006, the airline has grown alongside Hong Kong’s evolution as a leading international aviation hub, contributing to its global connectivity and service expansion.

Recent strategic developments include the relocation of check-in operations to Terminal 2 at Hong Kong International Airport, designed to improve passenger flow and operational efficiency. Alongside this, the airline has introduced a refreshed corporate identity, reflecting a more modern and forward-looking brand direction.

The introduction of the panda-themed aircraft represents a symbolic highlight within this anniversary year. It brings together fleet development, branding evolution, and cultural storytelling into a single initiative that reflects the airline’s long-term positioning.

Strengthening Hong Kong’s Global Cultural and Aviation Presence

Looking ahead, Hong Kong Airlines continues to position itself as a carrier deeply rooted in Hong Kong while maintaining a strong global outlook. The airline aims to combine innovation with cultural identity, supporting both tourism growth and international connectivity.

Through partnerships and creative collaborations, it seeks to contribute to Hong Kong’s role as a major aviation centre while also promoting the city’s cultural appeal and conservation message to a wider global audience.