Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) set a new monthly record for cargo tonnage throughput in November 2014. During the month, cargo volume rose by 5.5 per cent year on year to reach 421,000 tonnes. Continued growth was also seen in other traffic categories during the month, in which HKIA handled 5.1 million passengers and 32,920 flight movements, registering growth of 5.4 per cent and 4.0 per cent, respectively, over the same period last year.

The growth in cargo throughput last month was driven by transshipments and exports, which were up 11 per cent and 5 per cent respectively from a year ago. During the month, cargo throughput to/from North America and Southeast Asia increased most significantly compared to other key regions.

Julia Yan, general manager, Strategic Planning & Development of Airport Authority Hong Kong, said, “This is the first time HKIA has handled over 400,000 tonnes of cargo in a single month. This achievement further solidifies HKIA’s position as the world’s busiest cargo airport. Boosted by the seasonal surge in both cargo shipments and passenger traffic demand, we expect across-the-board growth in traffic volume to continue as we approach the end of the year, setting new annual records for all three traffic categories.”

Over the first 11 months of 2014, HKIA handled 4 million tonnes of cargo and 356,700 flight movements, representing growth of 5.6 per cent, 6.3 per cent and 5.1 per cent, respectively, over the same period last year. On a rolling 12-month basis, cargo throughput climbed by 5.8 per cent to 4.4 million tonnes.