While not the latest and greatest business class – the IFE screen is small, and you can forget about any USB power outlets – it’s still much better than being in one of the 260 economy recliners for the 9+ hour trek – especially on the overnight leg from Hong Kong to Sydney.

Business class travellers will also enjoy access to the airline’s Club Autus lounge at Hong Kong airport’s Terminal 1 Midfield Concourse; the equivalent lounge to be used at Sydney is not yet known.

Tickets for the Sydney-Hong Kong flights are now on sale, with business class return in mid-July currently showing at around A$4,500, and early-October around A$5,200.

Those prices are not too far out of line with Qantas and Cathay Pacific, which both have markedly superior business class offerings, although it remains to be seen what low promotional fares Hong Kong Airlines may soon launch – and how Qantas and Cathay will respond.

The arrival of Hong Kong Airlines, which has previously flown only to the Gold Coast and Cairns, follows the recent expansion of bilateral air traffic rights between Hong Kong and Australia.

Hong Kong Airlines is an arm of China’s Hainan Airlines and doesn’t belong to either the Star Alliance or SkyTeam groups.

However, in a win for Virgin Australia loyalists, Hong Kong Airlines is a Velocity partner.

Velocity frequent flyers stand to earn between 5,960 and 9,170 Velocity Points on a one-way business class flight between Sydney and Hong Kong (the actual number depends on the fare type booked), plus 110 status credits.

Velocity Gold and Platinum members travelling on Hong Kong Airlines enjoy some status benefits such as a higher baggage allowance, priority check-in and priority boarding, although lounge access remains out of the mix.

Sadly, Hong Kong Airlines is not currently a ‘points redemption partner’ through which Velocity Points can be used to snare a low-cost trip to HK.

The airline’s own Fortune Wings Club frequent flyer program has three ‘elite’ tiers – Silver, Gold and Platinum – which feature the usual perks such as lounge access, a higher checked luggage allowance, priority services and more.