Here’s what a business class ticket on the first direct flight from Hong Kong to Cape Town on the brand-new A350 buys you

Cathay Pacific recently announced that it will launch the first direct flight between Hong Kong and Cape Town, which was welcomed by local business people who do a regular China commute.

In addition, the direct flight will unlock massive tourism potential from Asia, said Alan Winde, Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities.

Currently, a business class trip on Cathay Pacific (priced up to R198,000 for a return flight) from Hong Kong involves a stopover, usually in Doha.

The new direct flight of 14 hours and 20 minutes from Hong Kong to Cape Town will shave up to six hours off the previous trips.

Business class tickets for the non-stop flights, which will start in November this year, are already for sale. According to the Cathay Pacific booking platform, these tickets are on offer for around R70,000. 

An added bonus: Passengers will travel from Hong Kong on Cathay’s brand-new Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The latest Airbus model can fly 15,000 kilometers non-stop, ideal for the long-haul flight.

The plane is 25% more fuel and cost efficient than other planes with the same width, says Cathay. Inside, “perceived noise levels” are also 50% quieter than other and has LED cabin mood lighting with millions of different colours to give “a relaxed cabin ambience”. 

The LED ambient lighting on the flight. Picture credit: Onemoreweektogo.com

The plane is also one of the first to offer total inflight connectivity. You can use wifi for an expected R140 per flight.

The business class cabins offer a flat bed that stretches out for 190cm.

The Business Class cabin on the new non-stop flight from Hong Kong to Cape Town.

Another view of the Airbus A350 cabin.

The business class cabin offers a 190cm fully-flat bed.

The business class seats offer single touch seat adjustment in business class and dimmable reading lights. You can also watch live television from across the world

Business class passengers also have an option to watch the A350's tail camera.

You can view constant footage from the sky with the Cathay Pacific Business Class tail camera. Photo credit: Youngtravelershongkong.com

This is the food you can expect:

Dinner is served. Picture credit: Onemoreweektogo.com

And the toiletries are on the house:

Toiletries in Business Class. Photo credit: Thepointsguy.com

But at the price, that would be the least you can expect, right?

Receive a single WhatsApp message every morning with all our latest news. Sign up here.

SEE ALSO:

• These are the best 5 wines under R80, according to SA's top young sommelier
• Millions of South Africans are turning to Norway to get their weather forecasts – here’s why
• The Maritzburg company that helps make Tesla cars, now brings wifi to millions of air travellers
• The teetering Steinhoff can't tell shareholders much – but promises to do 'whatever it takes' to stay afloat
• Even at 15%, South Africa is not paying too much in VAT compared to the rest of the world
• Fruit juice, low GI bread and bottled water - surprising products set for a VAT increase
• The mining industry really didn't like the last minister of minerals, but Gwede Mantashe is a pretty complicated guy
• He farms cabbages and sold life policies - 8 things you didn't know about Nhlanhla Nene
• The R1 billion yacht belonging to one of Russia's most eligible bachelors has just docked in Cape Tow
• Where to get the best paid jobs in government (and what to avoid)
• South Africans are probably eating Chinese honey that has been mixed with syrup, warns Wandile Sihlobo
• Barbra Streisand says she successfully made two clones of her pet dog, but that they have 'different personalities'
• South Africa's first black woman winemaker just launched her own brand — and the world can't get enough of it