Traffic in Hong Kong hits post-pandemic high in January

Traffic figures at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) reached a new high in January when it handled 5.28 million passengers (+27.8%) and 33,660 aircraft movements (+17%).

The increase in aircraft movements represented a post-pandemic high, as did the over 193,000 passengers that used the gateway on January 25.

Operator, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), notes that return of passengers and flights mean that the airport has fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

In January 2025, all passenger segments, including Hong Kong residents, visitors and transfer/transit passengers, experienced double-digit year-on-year increases in comparison with the same month last year.

Traffic to and from Southeast Asia, the Chinese Mainland and Japan recorded the most significant increases during the month.

Cargo throughput continued to gain momentum, registering a year-on-year increase of 4.1% to 394,000 tonnes in January 2025. All cargo sectors saw positive growth, with transhipments recording the highest increase at 12.2%.

AAHK notes that cargo traffic to and from the Middle East, Europe and Australasia grew the most among key trading regions during the month.

On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volume surged by 30.5% to 54.2 million, while flight movements experienced a significant 27.6% increase to 368,195. Cargo throughput saw double-digit growth of 12.0% to 4.95 million tonnes.

Meanwhile, three city terminals were added in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) in January 2025 at Guangzhou Hotel, Nanhai Vanke Plaza in Foshan, and Changdachang Plaza in Taishan respectively, offering coach and limousine services directly connected to HKG.

Chapman Fong, AAHK’s deputy director for corporate Development, said: “The airport serves as a prime double gateway connecting the Mainland to the world. AAHK is increasing the total number of city terminals in the GBA to 30 by March this year.

“This is part of our effort to continuously enhance our intermodal connectivity, including high-speed ferry, coach and limousine services.

“By facilitating passengers’ journey between the GBA and overseas destinations through the airport’s extensive aviation network, Hong Kong’s international aviation hub status will be strengthened.”