Hong Kong airport posts 1.1pc October cargo increase to 346,000 tonnes

HONG KONG airport posted a 1.1 per cent year-on-year increase in October air cargo to 346,000 tonnes as well as 11-per cent growth in transhipments with robust loads to and from North America and the mainland.

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) achieved sustained air passenger growth, handling 4.7 million, up 1.9 per cent year on year. The airport also saw 30,025 flight movements, representing an increase of 5.1 per cent against October last year.

The growth in passenger traffic was driven mainly by a surge in travel by Hong Kong residents for the long National Day holidays, resulting in a 14 per cent increase over October 2011, said the HKIA statement, adding that passenger traffic to and from south east Asia and Taiwan was also strong.

"It is encouraging to see that HKIA has recorded growth in all three traffic categories for the third month in a row. Preliminary numbers on cargo throughput in November also suggest a strong rebound in the year-end peak months. We are cautiously optimistic about cargo performance for 2012," said HKIA chief executive Stanley Hui Hon-chung.

"I'm also happy to report that HKIA has been named the 'Best Airport in China' in the Business Traveller China Awards for the sixth time in seven years, in recognition of service excellence," Mr Hui said.

HKIA also announced it has recently expanded its air services network with the addition of Globus Airlines, providing flight services to Novosibirsk, Russia.