With 4.36M passengers, Hong Kong International Airport celebrates a growth milestone

HKIA saw a big increase in air traffic in March 2024, showing that the aviation industry is recovering. With 4.36 million passengers handled and 29,840 flight movements, the airport had notable year-over-year growth of 48.2% and 56.7%, respectively.

The extended Easter holidays at the end of March, which increased demand for travel, were primarily responsible for the spike in passenger numbers. Routes linking Japan, Mainland China, and Southeast Asia saw the biggest increases in passenger traffic, indicating a revival of regional travel.

Strong success was also shown by HKIA's cargo operations, which saw a 15.1% year-over-year growth in March cargo to 428,000 tons. This continues the double-digit growth in cargo traffic that HKIA has experienced in 2024, solidifying its position as the busiest cargo airport in the world—a title that it regained in 2023, according to Airports Council International. With notable increases in freight to and from North America, Europe, and the Middle East, export traffic increased by 23.7%, accounting for the majority of the cargo growth.

In the first quarter of 2024, HKIA handled 12.7 million passengers, which is 81.7% more than in the same period in 2023. In the same year, there were 86,210 flights, a 63.7% increase in the total. The freight volume increased by 18.9% per year, reaching over 1.1 million metric tons. It performed well in all operational areas.

HKIA's passenger volume on a rolling 12-month basis was 45.2 million, a whopping 264.5% rise over the prior period. There was a significant year-over-year rise in both flight movements and cargo throughput, with increases of 92.1% and 9.1% to 309,650 and 4.5 million tons, respectively.

The Airport Authority of Hong Kong (AAHK) is dedicated to improving operational efficiency through innovation, even as HKIA maintains its current growth trajectory. Prestigious awards, such as the "Most Innovative Knowledge Enterprise (MIKE) Award 2023" in the Global and Hong Kong categories, the "Best in Technology Deployment Award," and the "Top Winners" designation at the Hong Kong MIKE Awards 2023, have recently been given in recognition of AAHK's efforts. These honors demonstrate AAHK's commitment to using cutting-edge technology and knowledge management systems to enhance airport operations.