Air traffic at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) continued to grow across all three categories in September with 430,000 tons of cargo and 5.61 million passenger volume during the month, according to the HKIA on Tuesday.
The cargo and passenger volume of the last month increased by 9.1 percent and 2 percent respectively year on year, according to a press release issued by the HKIA.
The main driver of the growth in passenger traffic in September was due to a 7 percent year-on-year growth in Hong Kong resident travel and the Japan market continued to show the most significant growth among the key regions.
On the cargo side, exports registered a robust 14 percent year-on-year growth, continuing to lead the growth in cargo volume. Among the key trading regions, cargo throughput to Europe and Southeast Asia increased the most significantly.
Passenger traffic at HKIA during China's National Day "Golden Week" holiday also recorded growth. From 1 to 8 October, passenger throughput at the airport rose by 8 percent, while the number of passengers who made use of SkyPier ferries to travel between HKIA and destinations in Pearl River Delta and Macao increased by 6.9 percent.
Over the first nine months of 2017, passenger throughput and air traffic movements have climbed 2.1 percent to 54.4 million and 1.4 percent to 313,095 respectively compared with the same period last year. Cargo volume has seen a year-on-year surge of 10.9 percent to 3.58 million tons.
On a rolling 12-month basis, the HKIA handled 71.7 million passengers, 415,980 flight movements and 4.87 million tons of cargo, registering growth of 1.5 percent, 0.7 percent and 10.2 percent respectively.
C K Ng, Executive Director with Airport Operations of Airport Authority Hong Kong said, "We are pleased to announce that HKIA's extensive network continues to grow. In October we will welcome three new airlines as part of our mission to offer more convenience and choice to passengers."
According to Ng, two airlines, Cambodia Angkor Air and JC (Cambodia) International Airlines, will commence operating flights to and from Cambodia on 29 October. Cambodia Angkor Air will be flying two weekly flights to Siem Reap, while JC (Cambodia) International Airlines will serve two flights to Siem Reap and two flights to Phnom Penh each week. In addition, Air Seoul will start operating daily flights to Seoul starting from 31 October.
Meanwhile, the HKIA was recognized once again as a Travel Hall of Fame honorary at the TTG Travel Awards 2017. HKIA has held this honor since 2013, after being voted the "Best Airport" 10 consecutive times by the Asia-Pacific travel trade.
