As a boy growing up in Hong Kong, Victor Ngai attended a primary school near the now-closed Kai Tak Airport, where he watched airplanes arrive and depart. The experience inspired him to become an airline pilot, and on Saturday, things will come full circle when Ngai, now a first officer, pilots Delta’s inaugural flight from Los Angeles to Hong Kong.
“It’s quite a journey,” he said of his career so far. “I’ve always dreamt of going back and being able to fly into Hong Kong.”
Ngai moved with his family to Utah when he was in fifth grade. He finished high school in only three years and entered Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at 17. After graduating, he worked for a few years as a flight instructor, then got a job as a commercial pilot at a Delta Connection regional carrier. He was hired by Delta in 2016, and has been with the airline ever since.
Delta announced plans to bring Hong Kong back into its international route network last year, using the Airbus A350-900. It last served the territory from Seattle in 2018.
When the news reached Delta’s pilots, Ngai jumped at the chance to fulfill his childhood dream. Circumstances worked in his favor, as he is now based in Los Angeles and flies the A350.
“I was pretty excited,” he said. “As soon as that news came out, I just jumped up in the air. The first person I told was my mom, and she said, ‘Finally, we can take Delta back from now on.’”
Ngai said he hasn’t spent substantial time in Hong Kong since 2018, and is interested to see how it’s changed.
He’s also enthusiastic about making the journey in an A350, which he called a “Cadillac” and said is “very well made.”
“I pinch myself every day, just being able to do this as a career,” he said.
He also highlighted Delta’s recent expansion in the Pacific, including new routes to Australia. The arrival of the airline’s first A350-1000s will support even more transpacific connections, he noted.
“I’m really excited to see what else is in store,” he said.
Ngai said there will be four pilots on board the Los Angeles-to-Hong Kong flight – two captains, and two first officers. They will take turns piloting the aircraft, going three hours on, three hours off, through the roughly 14-hour service.
Inaugural Service
Delta is setting up some special perks for its inaugural flight, including a meet-and-greet with chef Jereme Leung at LAX’s Delta One lounge before departure. Officials said Leung will curate the meal on board the flight to Hong Kong and on the return service to Los Angeles.
The airline has also put together a destination guidebook for Hong Kong, advising travelers on places to visit. The booklet, which Ngai contributed to, will be placed at every seat on the flight, along with Hong Kong-themed tote bags.