HONG KONG AIRLINES Octopus special edition keychain

If you’ve spent time in Hong Kong, then you will know that one of the essentials of staying there for any length of time is the Octopus Card. Originally developed in 1997 as a public transport swipe card, it can now be used for payment in many retail shops in Hong Kong, including most convenience stores, supermarkets, and fast food restaurants.

Hong Kong Airlines has developed a special edition Octopus Keychain, which is currently on sale for HK$260, inclusive of a HK$120 stored value.

Hong Kong Airlines says that the concept was to “create a modern and trendy item that is truly Hong Kong in nature. Neon lights mixed with Chinese words, bright colours and our airplane elements make this a very unique offering for our customers.”

This is a great initiative, and we can see these keychains becoming collectors items. They become talking points (“where did you get that?”) and act as an effective Hong Kong Airlines brand extension.

There’s no reason why other airlines couldn’t and shouldn’t look to do the same. E.g. Virgin or BA could easily create a themed Oyster Card for London (especially as the Oyster card was based on the original Octopus Card in Hong Kong). ■