Cathay Pacific, HK airport authority introduce cargo terminal charge cuts

The Cathay Pacific group is introducing a new terminal charge concession at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) effective April.

Customers of export shipments from Hong Kong on the group’s four airlines—Cathay  Pacific, Cathay Dragon, AHK Air Hong Kong and HK Express—will save HKD0.30 (US$0.038) per kilogram for both general cargo and special cargo, Cathay Pacific said in a statement.

The reduction ranges from 18% to more than 20% compared with the current charge levels. The concession will be partially contributed by the Airport Authority of Hong Kong (AAHK).

The new terminal charge concession takes effect from April 1, 2020.

The reduction comes as Cathay Pacific continues to encounter difficulties in cargo performance this year amid global trade uncertainty and local political unrest.

The initiative aims to boost the competitiveness of HKIA as a global cargo hub and support the industry’s cost and operating efficiency, the airline group said.

“We are driving the Terminal Charge concession to reinforce the competitiveness of Hong Kong International Airport,” Cathay Pacific chief customer and commercial officer Ronald Lam said.

“Cathay Pacific has been Hong Kong’s home airline for more than seven decades and we are immensely proud of the efforts and achievements we’ve made in helping it become the largest and most efficient multi-modal integrated logistics and aviation hub in Asia and the world.”

The concession is also seen to help cargo customers mitigate the cost impact of new International Civil Aviation Organisation security regulations that will begin rolling out progressively from the start of next year.

The Cathay Pacific group is comprised of premium global airline Cathay Pacific, regional full-service airline Cathay Dragon, low-cost carrier HK Express, and all-cargo carrier AHK Air Hong Kong. The group currently offers passenger and cargo services to more than 200 destinations around the world using a fleet of modern aircraft.