Total 2020 cargo throughput at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) declined 7.0% over 2019 to just under 4.5m tonnes.
Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) said that cargo operations “remain resilient”.
The airport handled 68,660 cargo flights during the year, an 18.3% surge compared to 2019.
Due to the impact of COVID-19, HKIA handled 8.8m passengers and 160,655 flights, which represent year-on-year decreases of 87.7% and 61.7% respectively.
In 2020, HKIA added a number of new destinations to its extensive flight network, including Beirut, Darwin, Frankfurt-Hahn, Indianapolis, Khabarovsk, Maastricht, Moscow Vnukovo, Ostend and Pittsburg.
In the single month of December 2020, HKIA saw a 0.2% year-on-year drop in cargo handled to 443,000 tonnes.
Cargo imports and exports continued their strong growth in December, climbing 18% and 8% year on year, respectively. Transshipments decreased significantly due to shortage of belly capacity on passenger flights.
Vivian Cheung, Executive Director, Airport Operations for the AA, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause grave impacts on the airport community, particularly on passenger traffic.
“The AA is deeply grateful for the community’s dedication and resilience in these difficult times, including adapting to new travel requirements, adjusting operations to fluctuating passenger numbers, and implementing new health measures to ensure the safety of staff and passengers.
“In 2021, we will continue to work closely with the airport community in managing the continuing challenges and prepare for the recovery of passenger traffic when the pandemic subsides.”
