Airport Authority Hong Kong (the AA) announced that passenger volume and flight movements at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) continued to increase in April 2019. During the month, HKIA handled 6.5 million passengers, representing year-on-year growth of 3%, while flight movements increased 0.8% to 35,655 compared to last April. Cargo throughput dropped 8.1% to 394,000 tonnes.

 

The growth in passenger volume was largely attributed to the Easter holiday falling in April this year compared to late March last year, which helped drive a 15% year-on-year rise in Hong Kong resident travel. During the month, passenger traffic to and from Taiwan and Europe recorded the most significant increases.

 

Cargo traffic remained weak due to uncertain global economic conditions. The decrease in cargo throughput this April was mainly due to 11% and 10% declines in imports and transshipments, respectively. Amongst key trading regions, Southeast Asia and Europe saw the most significant decreases.

 

Over the first four months of the year, HKIA handled 25.3 million passengers and 141,355 flight movements, representing year-on-year increases of 2.5% and 1%, respectively, while cargo throughput recorded 1.5 million tonnes, a decline of 6.1% compared to the same period last year.

 

On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volume and flight movements grew by 2.2% and 1.2% to 75.3 million and 429,150, respectively, while cargo throughput recorded 5 million tonnes, a decrease of 1.7% compared to the same period last year.