Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) reported cargo throughput of 0.1% year-on-year growth, reaching a record of 4.38 million tonnes.
In December 2015 alone, cargo volume rose 1% year-on-year to 391,000 tonnes, according to Airport Authority Hong Kong. The expansion was driven by exports, which registered 2% year-on-year growth over the same month in 2014.
Among the key trading regions, traffic to and from Europe and Australasia grew most significantly compared to other key regions.
Cathay, Dragonair ride seasonal peak
Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways said combined Cathay Pacific and Dragonair traffic figures for December 2015 also showed a slight increase year-on-year.
The two airlines reported a slight growth of 1.4% compared to the same month last year, carrying cargo and mail totaling 158,741 tonnes. The cargo and mail load factor fell by 0.3 percentage points to 67.9%. Capacity, measured in available cargo/mail tonne kilometers, was up by 2.4%, while cargo and mail revenue tonne kilometers (RTKs) flown increased by 2%.
In 2015 as a whole, tonnage rose by 4.3% against a capacity increase of 5.4% and a 5.4% rise in RTKs.
“The seasonal peak for airfreight lasted until the week before Christmas and our performance in December, at least in terms of tonnage lifted, was marginally ahead of expectations. Demand on the transpacific and Indian routes remained robust,” Mark Sutch, Cathay Pacific general manager of cargo sales & marketing, said.
“Unfortunately, the excess of capacity in the world’s air cargo markets made it difficult for carriers to get rates up to the kind of levels expected during the year-end peak. Overcapacity and pressure on yield will remain concerns for the industry moving into the New Year.”
Photo: deror_avi
