HK Express focuses heavily on Japan amid market demand, can operate without as many ATM issues

HK Express CEO Andrew Cowen, speaking at the CAPA Asia Aviation Summit, said (23-Nov-2015) part of the reason the carrier focuses so heavily on Japan is that the market demands it, and the carrier can operate without as many ATM issues. Mr Cowen explained: "Stripping away those ATC issues really stripped away the biggest excuse for not achieving OTP… This brought to the surface other issues like missed bags and late fuel trucks and things like that." Mr Cowen noted challenges operating to Japanese airports with legacy mindsets, noting: "One of the issues we're fighting with in a number of our Japanese airports is many refuelling companies will not allow refuelling while either passengers are embarking or disembarking."