Cargo tonnage at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) reached a record-high monthly total of 367,000 tonnes in May, up a massive 41.9 per cent year-on-year, according to Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK).

Passenger numbers rose 14.4 per cent year-on-year to 4.11 million. AAHK stated the “speedy and significant recovery in cargo traffic at HKIA further lends support to HKIA’s status as the world’s busiest international air cargo centre”.

Cargo throughput to/from all major HKIA markets showed double-digit growth over the same month last year. The substantial growth was in part due to the relatively low base recorded in May 2009, as well as the continued recovery of key export markets, particularly Europe and North America. Exports recorded strong growth of 61 per cent, while imports and transhipments surged 32 and 14 per cent respectively, according to AAHK.

The Authority’s CEO, Stanley Hui said: “We are delighted with the growth in all three air traffic categories, especially the huge increase in cargo throughput. Although the figures from last May were low by comparison, we have nevertheless seen a continuation in the rebound of cargo demand thanks to the sustained recovery of the economy. More than 10,000 tonnes of cargo were handled each day on average for three consecutive months and traffic has returned to the pre-crisis level”.

Air freight growth bodes well: ACI The world’s airports showed very healthy gains in air cargo volumes during May, according to new figures from Airports Council International (ACI).

The airports body noted that air freight growth is dominated by demand for international shipments, with major international freight hubs registered record volume increases, including: Shanghai Pudong (+59 per cent), Hong Kong (+42 per cent), Taipei (+53 per cent), Chicago O’Hare (+47 per cent), Dubai (+33.5 per cent), New York JFK (+32 per cent) and Frankfurt (+40 per cent).

“Worldwide freight growth wins the spotlight this month with a 27 per cent increase worldwide and an even more spectacular 35 per cent rise for international freight,” said ACI director of economics, Andreas Schimm. “Air freight remains on track to reach or exceed pre-crisis levels in the second quarter. The strong upward trend is still intact, which bodes well for a sustained global economic recovery.”