Passenger traffic and cargo volume at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) continued their decline in January 2020, affected by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and continuing social unrest.
During the month, HKIA handled 5.7 million passengers, representing a year-on-year decrease of 11.7%. This, according to a news report from the South China Morning Post, is its worst January in five years amid a six-month streak of double-digit declines in passenger traffic.
Cargo throughput dropped 10.4% compared to the same month last year, to 359,000 tonnes, said HKIA in a release.
Overall passenger traffic to/from Mainland China, South Korea and Southeast Asia recorded the most significant decreases in January. Visitor traffic remained weak, showing a year-on-year decrease of 43%. However, travel by Hong Kong residents saw a surge during the Chinese New Year holidays, amounting to a monthly growth of 25% year-on-year.
Cargo throughput declined due to closure of factories and businesses in Mainland China during the Chinese New Year holidays. The decrease in cargo was mainly attributed to the 15% and 10% drops in imports and transshipments, respectively. Exports decreased by 9% compared to the same month last year. Amongst key trading regions, traffic to/from Southeast Asia and North America decreased most significantly in the month.
Vivian Cheung, executive director of airport operations of Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA), said, “HKIA’s traffic has been affected by multiple factors, including the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus in late January and social circumstances.”
She said the decline in traffic numbers is expected to continue through February as airlines have suspended flights and governments in different markets have implemented immigration restrictions and quarantine measures.
On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volume fell by 5.7% to 70.8 million, while cargo throughput recorded 4.8 million tonnes, decreasing 6.6% year- on-year.
AA reported last month a 4.2% drop in passenger volume for full-year 2019 compared to 2018, equivalent to 71.5 million passengers served last year.
Total cargo throughput declined 6.1% in 2019 year-on-year to 4.8 million tonnes.
Image by Andy Leung from Pixabay
