Friday, August 23, 2024 Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has reported significant growth in air traffic for March 2024, reflecting the ongoing recovery of the aviation sector. The airport handled 4.36 million passengers and recorded 29,840 flight movements, marking substantial year-on-year increases of 56.
7% and 48.2%, respectively. The surge in passenger numbers was largely attributed to the long Easter holidays at the end of March, which boosted travel demand.
The most notable growth in passenger traffic was observed on routes connecting Southeast Asia, Mainland China, and Japan, highlighting a resurgence in regional travel. Cargo operations at HKIA also experienced robust performance, with a 15.1% year-on-year increase, totaling 428,000 tonnes in March.
This marks the continuation of double-digit growth in cargo volume that HKIA has seen throughout 2024, reinforcing its status as the world’s busiest cargo airport, a title it reclaimed in 2023 as recognized by Airports Council International. The growth in cargo was primarily driven by a 23.7% rise in export traffic, with significant increases in cargo to and from North America, Europe, and the Middle East.
For the first quarter of 2024, HKIA handled 12.7 million passengers, representing an 81.7% increase from the same period in 2023, when numbers were significantly lower.
Flight movements rose by 63.7% year-on-year, reaching 86,210. Meanwhile, cargo volume grew by 18.
9% year-on-year to over 1.1 million tonnes, indicating strong performance across all operational areas. On a 12-month rolling basis, HKIA’s passenger volume reached 45.
2 million, a remarkable 264.5% increase compared to the previous period. Flight movements and cargo throughput also saw considerable year-on-year growth, with increases of 92.
1% and 9.1% to 309,650 and 4.5 million tonnes, respectively.
As HKIA continues its growth trajectory, the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) remains committed to enhancing operational efficiency through innovation. AAHK’s efforts were recently recognized with prestigious accolades, including the “Most Innovative Knowledge Enterprise (MIKE) Award 2023” in both the Global and Hong Kong categories, as well as the ‘‘Best in Technology Deployment Award” and the “Top Winners” distinction at the Hong Kong MIKE Awards 2023. These awards highlight AAHK’s dedication to leveraging advanced technologies and knowledge management systems to optimize airport operations.
Vivian Cheung, Chief Operating Officer of AAHK, said, “We are honoured to receive these awards, which recognise our innovative approach to knowledge management and providing quality service to passengers. We will continue to identify and incorporate the latest innovations in airport management to further enhance the efficiency of our operations and provide passengers with a pleasant airport journey.”.
