Records keep tumbling as more cargo flows through Hong Kong International Airport

Cargo passing through Chek Lap Kok reached 218,000 tonnes in September, a record for Hong Kong. The figure was 19.5 per cent higher than September last year.  The previous monthly record was 214,533 tonnes recorded in November 2000.

Joseph Tsang, assistant chief economist at theTrade Development Council, said strong demand for manufactured goods out of China - particularly from the United States - had helped to boost Hong Kong's role as the region's premier cargo hub.
"Asia's exports, in particular those from China, have recovered quite significantly this year," he said.

Also breaking monthly records was Hong Kong Dragon Airways. Dragonair set a cargo record in September, with 18,328 tonnes carried, a 5.24 percent increase over the previous record of 17,415 tonnes set one month earlier. It was also a 47.56 percent increase on the amount of freight carried in September last year.

"Two consecutive record months keep us on track for our best year ever in cargo," said Stanley Hui, CEO of Dragonair.
 
"September's performance was the result of continuing strong demand in our main market of the Chinese mainland."

Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways released September traffic figures showing growth in cargo volumes which was 12.9 percent higher than the same month the previous year.

Kenny Tang, the airline's cargo manager, said: "In the nine months to September, we were already seeing a record year. Whether we see the record will of course depend on the last two months. It seems quite likely as we continue to see strong demand on all our trunk routes."
 
With China's strong economic growth underpinning the steady increase in cargo passing through the SAR, Hong Kong has also benefited from the US dockers' strike.
 
As a result of slow progress being made on clearing the backlog on the US west coast, record number of charter flights are flying into Hong Kong as shippers turn to the skies.

"Our aircraft are all full and we expect the fourth quarter to continue to boom," said Thomas Nieszner, chief executive (Asia Pacific), of German-based global freight forwarder Danzas AEI.

More than 220 cargo flights will have been added to the take off and landing schedules at Chek Lap Kok by the end of October, according to the Civil Aviation Department.
  
At the beginning of September Danzas introduced a bi-weekly B747 charter service serving the Chicago and New York markets from its regional base in Hong Kong in order to cope with the increase in demand.

New York-based Atlas Air and subsidiary Polar Air Cargo was granted an extra 63 transpacific flights by the CAD in the two weeks from October 6.

Figures from Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals - the airport's largest freight handler - reveal that charter flights are capturing an increasing slice of the cargo flowing through Chek Lap Kok.

Exports from charter flights increased an impressive 9,991 tonnes to 12,360 tonnes between January and June this year compared to the previous period. Imports jumped 74 tonnes to 86 tonnes.

Related links:
Hong Kong International Airport   www.hkairport.com
TDC www.tdctrade.com
Dragonair www.dragonair.com
Danzas AEI  www.danzasaei.com
Polar Air Cargo www.polaraircargo.com
HACTL www.hactl.com.hk