Air Traffic at HKIA Records Growth in October

18 Nov 2018

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) recorded growth in all three air traffic categories in October 2018. HKIA handled 6.19 million passengers and 36,500 flight movements, marking year-on-year increases of 0.5% and 1.4%, respectively. The airport also processed 451,000 tonnes of cargo and airmail, a 2.8% rise over the same month last year.

The growth in passenger traffic was mainly driven by Hong Kong resident travel, which registered a 7% year-on-year increase over the same month last year. Passenger traffic to and from Japan and Europe saw the most significant increases.

HKIA reported a 7% year-on-year rise in transshipments, which continued to be the main driver for cargo growth. Amongst key trading regions, traffic to and from North America and Southeast Asia posted the most significant increases for the month.

Over the first 10 months of the year, HKIA handled 62.2 million passengers and 4.21 million tonnes of cargo and airmail, representing year-on-year increases of 2.8% and 2.6%, respectively. The airport recorded 355,160 flight movements, a 1.7% rise over the first 10 months of 2017.

On a 12-month rolling basis, HKIA handled 74.5 million passengers, 5.15 million tonnes of cargo and airmail, and 426,725 flight movements, representing increases of 3.4%, 3.3% and 2.2% over the same period last year.

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) also announced that its Intelligent RFID-embedded Baggage Loading Robotics for Automated Baggage Reconciliation, jointly developed with E-Business Solutions Limited clinched the Winner Award in the “Technology of the Year – Internet of Things” category at the 18th Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Alliance (APICTA) Awards. The APICTA Awards, organised to stimulate innovation and creativity in information and communication technology, received more than 260 entries for this most recent edition.

Amen Tong, General Manager, Technical Services for the AA, said, "We are honoured to receive this recognition from the APICTA Awards, which is highly regarded in the information technology industry. Our RFID-embedded baggage loading device can identify, record and verify the correct baggage to be loaded onto aircraft and send out alerts in case of mismatches. It greatly enhances the efficiency and accuracy of baggage loading for departure flights. The AA will continue to leverage technology to enhance both the efficiency and safety of its airport operations and passenger experience."

In addition, HKIA recently welcomed two new passenger airlines, Thai Smile Airways and the India-based SpiceJet. Thai Smile Airways started operating daily flights to and from Bangkok and Phuket on 28 October, while SpiceJet will start providing daily flights to and from Delhi on 23 November.