Hong Kong outlines strategy to maintain airport cargo crown, boost passenger traffic
Hong Kong's government detailed plans to boost passenger and cargo traffic at the airport, which remains the world's busiest for cargo but has passenger numbers below pre-pandemic levels. Officials cited new airline incentives, expanded air services agreements and a five-year plan targeting 240 glob
Hong Kong’s government on Wednesday outlined strategies to strengthen the city’s status as an international aviation hub, citing new airline incentives and expanded air services agreements to boost passenger numbers and protect its cargo crown.
In a legislative council question-and-answer session, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung said the three-runway system, now fully operational, can handle 120 million passengers and 10 million tonnes of cargo annually. However, passenger traffic has recovered to less than 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, limiting the infrastructure’s full potential.
Lam said the government is using a “policy-led” approach to proactively plan and optimise air traffic rights. Hong Kong has signed 87 bilateral civil aviation agreements. “When selecting aviation partners, we look not only at current traffic and economic benefits but also at strategic value and future business opportunities,” he said, citing Brazil, Peru and Kazakhstan as examples of resource-rich countries with untapped trade potential.
On European routes, Lam said Hong Kong has agreements with more than 80 per cent of European Union member states, including all major ones. Recent updates or expansions have been made with Luxembourg and Malta, while a new agreement has been signed with Poland. The government will continue to explore ways to deepen ties with EU members.
To address tight long-haul flight supply and high ticket prices, the Airport Authority launched an “Air Network Expansion Programme” in June 2024, offering financial incentives for airlines to start new routes, especially long-haul ones. As of September, 40 airlines had opened 95 new routes across five continents and increased frequencies on 15 existing routes. Etihad Airways and Delta Air Lines have resumed flights to Abu Dhabi and Los Angeles, respectively.
On cargo, Lam said Hong Kong International Airport was named the world’s busiest cargo airport for 2025, the 15th time since 2010. Cargo volume reached 5.07 million tonnes for the year, up 2.7 per cent year-on-year. The first three quarters of 2026 saw a 3.3 per cent rise to 3.78 million tonnes. The government’s first five-year plan sets “maintaining global leadership in air cargo throughput” as a key goal.
Lam outlined five development targets: building a cargo super-highway, pioneering multimodal联运 operations, diversifying cargo structures, integrating into supply chain reshaping, and digitising air cargo processes. A “Cargo Aircraft Network Expansion Programme” launched in March has attracted 14 airlines to add 80 extra weekly cargo flights. Qatar Airways Cargo moved its regional headquarters to Hong Kong in August 2026 and signed a memorandum to increase flights and open new routes via the city.
The Airport Authority is also pushing ahead with the Dongguan Air Cargo Centre, which has processed goods worth over 57 billion yuan (US$7.8 billion) since its pilot phase. Commercial operations are set to begin in June 2027, aiming to create a model for Greater Bay Area cooperation.
