Continued Growth for Passenger Traffic @ Hong Kong Int. Airport

Passenger volume and aircraft movements at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) continued to grow in October 2011.

The airport handled 4.6 million passenger trips and recorded 28,545 aircraft movements during the month, representing growth of 5.9% and 5% respectively compared to the same period last year. Cargo volume was 342,000 tonnes, down 8.2% year on year.

Stanley Hui Hon-chung, Chief Executive Officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), pointed out that growth in passengers and aircraft movements was stable, while declining trade in the United States and European markets amid their economic situations – as well as Thailand, which has been adversely affected by recent flooding – negatively impacted cargo performance.

"While HKIA's cargo performance is consistent with the worldwide negative growth trend, I'm pleased to see passenger volume and aircraft movements continue to rise. In view of the strong Chinese Mainland economy, particularly its growing aviation industry and surging inbound visitors this year, I am confident that our steady performance in passengers and aircraft movements will continue through the end of the year," said Mr. Hui Hon-chung.

The growth in passenger traffic in October was mainly driven by visitor traffic, which registered a 7% increase over the same month last year. The airport passenger growth is consistent with the growth in visitor traffic to Hong Kong, which the Hong Kong Tourism Board forecasts will exceed 40 million this year. Passenger traffic to/from South East Asia performed particularly well.

The cargo decline in October was mainly attributed to the 8% year-on-year drop in exports. Imports and transshipments decreased by 8% and 10% respectively compared to October 2010. Europe, North America, Chinese Mainland and Taiwan all experienced double-digit year-on-year declines in overall cargo traffic.

During the first ten months of 2011, the airport handled 44.8 million passengers, representing cumulative growth of 5.8% over the same period last year. Aircraft movements also rose 9.7% in the same period, amounting to 276,575. On the cargo front, HKIA processed 3.3 million tonnes of cargo, down 4.4%.

On a rolling 12-month basis, passenger trips amounted to 53.4 million and aircraft movements totalled 331,065, representing cumulative year-on-year growth of 6.0% and 10.4% respectively. Cargo volume recorded 4 million tonnes, a decrease of 2.3%.

See recent travel news from: Travel News Asia, Tickets, Hong Kong Airport, HKIA, Hong Kong Visitor Arrivals, Hong Kong, October 2011