May traffic at Hong Kong International (HKG) and Sydney Airport (SYD) rose by +8.9% and +3.1% respectively to reach 5.1m and 2.996m – with Chinese passenger numbers growing strongly at both hubs.

 

At HKG, all passenger categories (Hong Kong resident traffic, visitor traffic and transfer/transit traffic) were up with rates of +10%, +8% and +9% respectively. Airport Authority Hong Kong says: “Passenger traffic to/from Taiwan and mainland China recorded the most significant increases.”

 

In Australia, CEO Kerrie Mather (left) comments: “International traffic continues to be driven by strong Chinese passenger growth, increasing +11.4% (in May, year-on-year). The rolling 12-month Chinese growth rate remains at an outstanding +13.7%. Indian and Malaysian passengers increased +25.6% and +18.2% respectively due to additional frequencies from Air India, AirAsia X and Malaysian Airlines.”

 

In May, SYD saw strong inbound demand from foreign nationalities, up +8.7% over May 2013, helped by low-cost carriers such as the Philippines’ Cebu Pacific Air. In May, Philippines traffic grew by +17.7%. No major nationality markets declined over the month.

 

On international route development, Stanley Hui Hon-chung (right), Chief Executive Officer of AAHK, says: “We are pleased to welcome a new daily service by American Airlines to Dallas/ Fort Worth, Texas (started on 13 June). In addition, Delta Air Lines will start flying to Seattle from HKIA later this month.”

 

On a rolling 12-month basis to May, HKG has handled 61.5m passenger trips, up +7.2%  while SYD reached 38.25m, up +2.3%.