Passenger numbers continue steady rise in Hong Kong

Passenger numbers continue to grow at Hong Kong International Airport, rising by 14.9% in July on the same month a year ago as a total of 3.8 million travellers passed through the gateway.

According to operator, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), the daily passenger average in July exceeded 120,000, recovering to 60% of the pre-pandemic levels.

Aircraft movements and cargo throughput in July saw month-on-month increases of 7.4% and 1.7%, respectively, to 24,030 movements and 361,000 tonnes.

Compared with the same month in 2022, passenger volume saw an eight-fold increase while flight movements doubled. All passenger segments grew significantly compared to July 2022 as passenger traffic continued its steady recovery.

Traffic to and from Southeast Asia, Mainland China and Japan recorded the most substantial increases.

Cargo throughput experienced a year-on-year increase of 3.8% in July. Exports contributed the most to the overall increase in cargo volume in July, rising by 12.6% compared to the same month last year. Traffic to and from key trading regions in North America, the Middle East and Europe rose considerably during the month.

Over the first seven months of the year, the airport handled 20.4 million passengers, increasing more than 15 times from the low base recorded during the same period in 2022.

The airport handled 142,840 flight movements, representing 94% year-on-year growth. Cargo volume declined by 4.2% year on year to 2.4 million tonnes.

On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volumes at HKIA increased a remarkable 10 times year on year to 24.8 million, while flight movements rose by 44.6% to 207,925. Cargo throughput saw a decrease of 14% to 4.1 million tonnes.

In other news, HKIA announced it recently achieved Level 3 accreditation, the highest rank attainable under ACI’s Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation Programme.

The Level 3 accreditation indicates the airport and its partners’ commitment to improving accessibility through the application of innovation and technology, digital accessibility, principles of universal design and the establishment of an inclusive culture for all types of disabilities.

AAHK’s executive director for airport operations, Steven Yiu, said, “Care for passengers and staff is at the core of airport operations.

“We are pleased to receive this accreditation from ACI, which recognises our tireless efforts to enhance HKIA’s facilities and ensure that they cater to every airport user’s need.

“We will continue to upgrade the facilities to create an accessible, safe and inclusive airport experience for all passengers from around the world.”