Air traffic movements hit record high in July

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) recorded robust growth in all three air traffic categories in July. Air traffic movements achieved a new monthly record since December 2013, with 33,285 movements in the month, representing a 3.5% growth over the same period last year. Passenger traffic grew 3.6% to 5.6 million, and cargo throughput also showed strong growth of 8.3% to 370,000 tonnes.

The growth in July passenger traffic was mainly driven by 4% year-on-year growth in both Hong Kong resident and visitor traffic. Passenger traffic to/from North Asia and North America recorded the most significant increases.

The growth in cargo throughput last month was driven mainly by transshipments, which was up 23% from a year ago. During the month, cargo throughput to/from Mainland China and North America improved most significantly compared to other key regions.

C K Ng, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong, remarked, “We are pleased to have achieved a new monthly record in air traffic movements in July. Increases in passenger traffic, cargo throughput and air traffic movements have clearly demonstrated steady growth momentum in air traffic at HKIA.”

“At the end of July, HKIA welcomed the first Airbus A350 XWB arriving from Toulouse, France, as Hong Kong was one of the fourteen cities chosen for the new aircraft’s route proving exercise. This new mid-sized wide-bodied aircraft offers superior energy efficiency and low emissions, and we applaud the industry’s efforts towards minimising environmental impact,” added Mr Ng.

In addition, a group of enthusiastic graduates and students of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts is staging “Summer MJ Fun @ HKIA” at the Meeters and Greeters Hall in Terminal 1 from 11 to 24 August, delighting travellers with a singing and dancing performance echoing the energy and passion of the legendary Michael Jackson’s music, aiming to provide passengers a lively terminal experience.

For the first seven months of 2014, HKIA handled 36.4 million passengers, 2.5 million tonnes of cargo and 224,370 flight movements, representing year-on-year increases of 5.9%, 6.6% and 5.4%, respectively.

On a rolling 12-month basis, HKIA’s passenger volume grew 6.5% to 61.9 million, while cargo volume rose 5.1% to 4.28 million tonnes. Air traffic movements increased 5.8% to 383,620 year on year.