On December 4, Cathay Pacific Airways announced a new service that allows passengers to have their boarding passes issued at Shenzhen International Airport (SZIA) for the airline's flights departing from Hong Kong. Passengers can now complete their check-in procedures before taking cross-boundary land transportation to Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

Upon arrival at the airport in Hong Kong, passengers with baggage can go straight to the Cathay Pacific Self Check-in Bag Drop counter. Those without check-in baggage can proceed straight through to Immigration, speeding up the process of getting to their flight. Passengers departing from Shenzhen will need to arrive at SZIA at least 180 minutes before the scheduled departure time of their flight.

The new service, which came into effect 1 December, is being provided by SkyLink Passenger Services Company, a joint venture with Airport Authority Hong Kong. The Shenzhen check-in option is an extension of the "upstream" airline check-in service already being offered to Cathay Pacific passengers travelling between Shekou, Fuyong, Humen, Macau and HKIA's SkyPier by cross-boundary ferry.

This new service will help to further strengthen Hong Kong's dual role as gateway to the Mainland and leading international aviation hub by creating seamless connections between the Pearl River Delta region and international flights departing from Hong Kong.

Cathay Pacific Director Service Delivery Ivan Chu said: "We have been offering through-check services for passengers to and from Mainland China for more than 10 years as part of a continued effort to strengthen transportation links between Hong Kong and its neighbouring cities in the Pearl River Delta. We are pleased to be able to offer the check-in service from Shenzhen International Airport which we are sure will be welcomed by travellers."