Picture credit: Cathay Cargo
In 2023, HKIA handled 4.3 million metric tonnes of cargo, up 3.2% on 2022 but 9.9% below 2019.
It has held the title of the world’s busiest cargo airport for 13 of the last 14 years since 2010.
Reacting to the news, Jack So, Chairman of Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), says, “We are proud to have claimed once again the top spot for air cargo throughput. This accomplishment demonstrates HKIA’s resilience, unparalleled efficiency and world-class cargo services. Air cargo is a key driver of the growth of Hong Kong’s logistics industry and overall economic development. AAHK shall continue to work tirelessly with our air cargo community to further strengthen HKIA’s competitiveness as a global cargo hub.”
HKIA is increasing capacity with the Three-runway System scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, which will increase capacity to 10 million tonnes a year.
The airport is focusing on high-value and fast-growing segments with HKIA being the world's first airport to earn all four IATA CEIV certificates for handling pharmaceuticals, perishables, live animals and lithium batteries.
E-commerce is another growth area with the Cainiao Smart Gateway, developed by Alibaba Group’s logistics arm opening in 2023, DHL increasing capacity at its Central Asia Hub by 50% and UPS announcing plans for a new hub at the airport.
Connections with the Greater Bay Area have been expanded with sea-air transhipments carrying out security screening, palletisation, cargo acceptance and other services upstream at the HKIA Dongguan Logistics Park before the cargo is shipped to HKIA by sea.
A similar process is in place for international imports to the Mainland.
The news was welcomed by Cathay Cargo, with Director Tom Owen praising the airport’s infrastructure and expertise, and saying the airline is investing to help HKIA retain its position.
He says, “We certainly don’t take Hong Kong’s air cargo success for granted, and remain committed to continuing to work together with the Transport and Logistics Bureau, Civil Aviation Department, Airport Authority Hong Kong, all sectors in the air cargo industry, and countless other important stakeholders to continue to grow Hong Kong further as the world’s leading air cargo hub, and the premier air cargo gateway connecting the Chinese Mainland with the rest of the world.”
ACI World released data for the top 10 airports, who represent around 26% of global volumes at 29.6 million tonnes, a decline of 3.5% on 2022 due to ongoing geopolitical tensions and disruptions to global trade and supply chains.
Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director General of ACI World, says, “Cargo continues to play a key role in world commerce despite the year-over-year decrease. Hong Kong International Airport has maintained the top position, followed by Memphis International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Doha International Airport rejoins the top 10, jumping to number 8 with a growth of 6.3% over 2019.”
Memphis remained in second place with a 4% fall to 3.8 million tonnes and Shanghai Pudong overtook Anchorage to take third place with growth of 10.4% to 3.4 million tonnes.
Anchorage had a 2.4% fall to 3.38 million tonnes, which is 23.1% above 2019.
Seoul’s Incheon airport swapped places with Louisville in the USA with both handling 2.7 million tonnes, the former seeing cargo volumes falling 6.9% year-on-year and the latter by 11.1%.
Miami moved from eighth to seventh with 1% growth to 2.5 million tonnes. Tonnage has grown 20.7% since 2019 when it was in 12th place.
Doha returned to the top 10 with 1.5% growth to 2.3 million tonnes, putting it in eighth place, up from 11th place in 2022.
Los Angeles remains in ninth despite a year-on-year fall of 14.9% to 2.1 million tonnes, 1.9% higher than 2019 when it was the 13th busiest cargo airport.
Taipei fell from seventh in 2022 to 10th in 2023 with cargo volumes falling 16.8% year-on-year to 2.1 million tonnes.