HKIA Sees Continuous Growth in Passenger Volume, Flight Movements in April

(HONG KONG, 19 May 2019) – Airport Authority Hong Kong (the AA) announced that passenger volume and flight movements at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) continued to increase in April 2019. During the month, HKIA handled 6.5 million passengers, representing year-on-year growth of 3%, while flight movements increased 0.8% to 35,655 compared to last April. Cargo throughput dropped 8.1% to 394,000 tonnes.

The growth in passenger volume was largely attributed to the Easter holiday falling in April this year compared to late March last year, which helped drive a 15% year-on-year rise in Hong Kong resident travel. During the month, passenger traffic to and from Taiwan and Europe recorded the most significant increases.

Cargo traffic remained weak due to uncertain global economic conditions. The decrease in cargo throughput this April was mainly due to 11% and 10% declines in imports and transshipments, respectively. Amongst key trading regions, Southeast Asia and Europe saw the most significant decreases.

Over the first four months of the year, HKIA handled 25.3 million passengers and 141,355 flight movements, representing year-on-year increases of 2.5% and 1%, respectively, while cargo throughput recorded 1.5 million tonnes, a decline of 6.1% compared to the same period last year.

On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volume and flight movements grew by 2.2% and 1.2% to 75.3 million and 429,150, respectively, while cargo throughput recorded 5 million tonnes, a decrease of 1.7% compared to the same period last year.

Elsewhere, HKIA was again recognised for air cargo excellence with awards from leading international publications. HKIA was named “Freighter Hub of the Year 2019” at the Cargo Airline of the Year awards hosted by Air Cargo News, and it also received the “Air Cargo Excellence Platinum Award” from Air Cargo World. In both instances, HKIA was commended for its valuable contributions to freighter operators and the air cargo industry as well as its performance, value and facilities.

Cissy Chan, Executive Director, Commercial of the AA, said, “We are honoured to receive these prestigious recognitions, which are highly regarded in the global air cargo industry. We attribute these accolades to the collective effort of HKIA and its cargo operators as well as the airport’s excellent connectivity.”

“HKIA has been recognised as the world’s busiest cargo airport since 2010,” Ms Chan continued. “We will develop our cargo strategy in three key areas – e-commerce, transshipments and high-value logistics – while continuing to work closely with our business partners to maintain HKIA’s position as the world’s leading air cargo hub.”