HKIA reports of 5.8% increase in passenger volume during July 2016 compared to same month last year

HONG KONG, 2016-Aug-16 — /Travel PR News/ — Air traffic at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) saw steady growth in July 2016. During the month, passenger volume increased 5.8% year on year to 6.3 million, while flight movements rose 2.9% to 35,200 compared to the same month last year. Cargo throughput saw a 4.7% year-on-year increase to 380,000 tonnes.

The main driver behind passenger traffic growth in July was the 11% year-on-year growth in Hong Kong resident travellers. Passenger traffic to / from North Asia and Mainland China recorded the most significant increases. Another reason for the passenger growth in recent months was the low base in South Korean routes caused by the outbreak of MERS during the same period last year. As traffic to South Korea gradually recovered in August 2015, growth in passenger numbers will be moderate for the summer period.

A robust 15% year-on-year growth in transshipments led to respectable growth in cargo volume last month. Traffic to / from key trading regions in North America, Mainland China and Southeast Asia rose most significantly in July.

For the first seven months of the year, HKIA welcomed 41.5 million passengers and recorded 239,960 flight movements, marking year-on-year increases of 5.2% and 2.6%, respectively. HKIA handled 2.46 million tonnes of cargo during the period, which remained flat compared to the same period last year.

On a rolling 12-month basis, HKIA handled 70.5 million passengers and 412,160 flight movements, recording 6.1% and 2.9% year-on-year growth, respectively. Meanwhile, cargo handled in the past 12 months remained stable at 4.38 million tonnes.

Meanwhile, further to the “Art, Culture and Music at the Airport 2016” Festival which started in July, the airport will be bringing more cultural experience to passengers during this summer period. Vivian Cheung, Deputy Director, Airport Operations of Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) said, “From today to 21 August, AA will be teaming up with Extension and Continuing Education for Life of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts again, to bring our passengers a performance of ‘Singing in Summer Rain’, where students will sing and dance to numbers from the all-time-favourite musical ‘Singing in the Rain’. The show will be staged at Meeters and Greeters Hall B seven times daily, where passengers can enjoy some live music and dance performance when they pass by.”