Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) experienced strong growth in cargo throughput in November, the traditional peak period for air freight. During the month, cargo volume increased sharply by 7.1% year-on-year to 436,000 tonnes, setting a new monthly record.
Imports, exports, and transshipments all grew by 7% compared to the same month last year. Among the key trading regions, traffic to and from Southeast Asia and Europe increased most significantly during the month.
In the first 11 months of 2016, HKIA’s cargo throughput grew 2.4% from the same period in 2015 to 4.1 million tonnes. On a rolling 12-month basis, HKIA handled 4.48 million tonnes of cargo, recording a year-on-year increase of 2.3%.
Cathay Pacific, Air Canada in codeshare deal
In related developments, Cathay Pacific and Air Canada announced a strategic cooperation agreement to enhance travel services for Cathay Pacific travelers within Canada and for Air Canada customers traveling via Hong Kong to Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand.
Both airlines’ customers can book travel to their final destination on a single ticket with through-checked bags as well as enjoy reciprocal mileage accrual and redemption benefits.
Tickets will go on sale January 12, 2017 for travel beginning January 19, 2017.
Cathay Pacific customers will be able to book travel on Air Canada flights connecting with Cathay Pacific’s up to three daily flights to Vancouver and up to two daily services to Toronto from Hong Kong. Cathay Pacific will place its code on Air Canada flights to all major cities across Canada including Winnipeg, Victoria, Edmonton, Calgary, Kelowna, Regina, Saskatoon, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec, Halifax, and St. Johns.
The Canadian airline will offer codeshare services to an additional eight cities in Southeast Asia on flights operated by Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon connecting with Air Canada’s double daily services to Hong Kong from Toronto and Vancouver. It will place its code on the Hong Kong airlines’ flights to Manila, Cebu, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai.
Cathay Pacific currently operates double daily flights to Vancouver from Hong Kong using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. From March 28, 2017, the airline’s Vancouver schedule will be enhanced by the addition of three extra weekly services, which will be operated by Airbus A350-900 aircraft, bringing the total number of flights to the Canadian city to 17 per week. Cathay Pacific also operates 10 weekly flights between Hong Kong and Toronto.
Photo: Ralf Roletschek
