Hactl chief reports 'boomlette' as pre-Christmas freight volumes rise

AIR FREIGHT through Hong Kong International Airport is showing signs of a mini-boom as the year comes to an end because of extra freighter flights before Christmas, reports the South China Morning Post.

Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals (Hactl) managing director Mark Whitehead spoke of at "boomlette" at his facility as charter and scheduled airlines have booked space for an additional 35 freighter flights from mid-November to mid-December.

Most of these flights will use 747s that can carry about 100 tonnes of freight. This suggests Hactl could handle more than 3,500 tonnes of extra freight by the time the flights end on December 11.

By comparison, Hactl handled an average of 4,100 tonnes of export cargo a day in September, while total volume, comprising exports, imports and transhipments, was 237,761 tonnes for the month, the highest monthly total since March.

Japan's Nippon Cargo Airlines plans to operate the most flights, with 16 additional departures to Tokyo's Narita airport between 1 and 30 November. Silk Way Airlines, which operates from Baku, Azerbaijan, will make 10 extra flights. There are also extra flights by Qatar Airways, Turkey's ACT Airlines and Russian carriers Polet Airlines and Air Bridge Cargo.