Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has reported ‘continuous growth’ at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) during September 2016, with passenger numbers +3.5% to 5.5m, flight movements +2.3% to 33,865 (year-on-year) and cargo up 7.2%.

 

The airport, which is currently tendering its duty free liquor and tobacco and general merchandise concessions, benefited mainly from a seven per cent year-on-year rise in Hong Kong resident travel, with south-east Asia and Japan proving particularly popular.

 

The airport also pointed to its 15% increase in trans-shipments compared to the same month last year as the continuing main growth driver in its cargo business. AAHK added that traffic to and from main trading regions in North America and south-east Asia rose ‘most significantly’ in September.

 

TENDER RESULT EXPECTED SOON

In a statement, Airport Authority said: “During the first nine months of 2016, HKIA handled 53.2m passengers and 308,645 flight movements, an increase of 4.1% and 2.3% respectively from the same period last year. Cargo traffic increased by 1.2% to 3.2m tonnes.

 

On a rolling 12-month basis, HKIA handled 70.6m passengers, 412,860 flight movements and 4.4m tonnes of cargo, marking year-on-year increases of 4.9%, 2.5% and 0.9% respectively.

 

This was also the month for awards for Hong Kong as it was once again inducted into the Travel Hall of Fame at the TTG Travel Awards this year. HKIA has held this honour since 2013, after being voted ‘Best Airport’ 10 consecutive times by the Asia-Pacific travel trade.