Hong Kong Int. Airport Reports July 2020 Traffic; Extends Relief Package

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) handled 96,000 passengers and 9,870 flight movements in July 2020, a year-on-year decrease of 98.6% and 73.2%, respectively.

Cargo throughput declined 7.3% to 372,000 tonnes compared to the same month last year.

Cargo throughput to and from Southeast Asia, Mainland China and Europe experienced the most significant decreases, whilst transshipments remained low due to shortage of belly capacity on passenger flights.

Cargo throughput was relatively steady in comparison with the drop in passenger throughput. As the demand for air cargo services remained relatively strong, freighter movements recorded a year-on-year increase of 21%. Exports and imports also increased by 7% and 4% respectively, compared to the same month last year.

Travel demand remained weak as a result of the continuation of Hong Kong’s entry restrictions for non-residents, as well as immigration restrictions and quarantine measures implemented by different countries and regions. During the month, Hong Kong resident, visitor and transfer/ transit passenger traffic decreased significantly compared to the same month last year.

Over the first seven months of the year, HKIA handled 8.4 million passengers and 104,000 flight movements, equalling year-on-year decreases of 81.2% and 58.4%, respectively. Cargo throughput recorded a 9.7% drop to 2.4 million tonnes.

On a 12-month rolling basis, passengers and flight movements decreased 53.3% and 36.2% to 35 million and 273,940, respectively. Cargo throughput fell 7.7% to 4.5 million tonnes.

Relief Package Extended

The Airport Authority has extended its generous relief package for the airport community for another two months to end of October 2020.

Relief measures include full waiver of parking charge for idle passenger aircraft and airbridge fees; reduction of passenger aircraft landing charges; fees reduction related to ramp handling, maintenance and airside vehicles; as well as rental reduction for terminal tenants covering lounges and offices; fees waiver for terminal licencees including ancillary passenger services, commercial services counters and cross-border transport operators; and concessions on franchise fees for aviation support services such as into-plane fuelling. The full waiver on fees in relation to aircraft maintenance charges and fixed charges for inflight catering services will continue until end of October.

The rental relief for retail and catering tenants will also continue. Most of the shops and restaurants in the terminal have suspended business and their rental is waived. For those that remain open to provide essential services, the base rent is waived.

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