OREANDA-NEWS. Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) continued its strong performance in all three traffic categories in November, setting new daily and monthly records for cargo tonnage. During the month, cargo volume saw 6.6% growth over the same month last year, reaching 399,000 tonnes, and breaking the previous monthly record of 374,000 tonnes set in November last year. Passenger volume of 4.9 million and 31,645 flight movements represented year-on-year increases of 6.8% and 6.5%, respectively.

The growth in passenger traffic was driven mainly by Hong Kong resident traffic and visitor traffic, which saw 14% and 7% gains, respectively, over the same month last year. Passenger traffic to and from Japan and South East Asia recorded the most significant increases.

Growth in cargo throughput was primarily due to 6% growth in exports and 13% growth in transshipments. During the month, cargo traffic to and from South East Asia and Mainland China improved most significantly compared to other key regions.

Stanley Hui Hon-chung, Chief Executive Officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong, said, “We were delighted to see cargo flow at HKIA breaking a new daily record of over 15,000 tonnes on 24 November.  The expanding network and frequency of air services at HKIA also affords better opportunities to capture more cargo transshipment.  Fuelled by burgeoning demand from the traditional Christmas peak season, we expect this promising growth in cargo to continue throughout the rest of the year.

“While making preparations for the Christmas travelling peak season that will start from mid-December, HKIA has also prepared a variety of festive activities and decorations to share the seasonal joy with our passengers – such as dance recitals, Christmas caroling and orchestra performances by young talents from the community. We are also welcoming passengers with a stunning crystal Christmas tree embellished with over a million of sparkling crystals in the Meeters and Greeters Hall,” Mr Hui added.

Over the first 11 months of 2013, HKIA handled 54.7 million passenger trips, 3.7 million tonnes of cargo and 339,200 flight movements, representing growth of 6.1%, 2.6% and 5.7%, respectively, over the same period last year.

On a rolling 12-month basis, passenger traffic climbed 5.9% to 59.6 million, while cargo volume grew 3.1% to 4.1 million tonnes. Flight movements rose 5.7% from the previous year to 370,000.