LCQ1: Enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub
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Question:
The full commissioning of the Three-Runway System has significantly enhanced the passenger and cargo handling capacity and driven a steady growth in air cargo volume, enabling Hong Kong International Airport to retain its status as the world's busiest cargo airport for consecutive years; however, it is learnt that its passenger throughput has only recovered to less than 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, failing to fully benefit from the infrastructure. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) given that this year's Policy Address proposes a number of measures to tap into new sources of passenger and cargo traffic, including expediting the establishment of new air services agreements and the expansion of traffic rights, and that the First Five-Year Plan for Hong Kong has set a target of increasing the number of global destinations to 240 within five years, how the authorities make it possible for airlines to actively launch and continuously operate new routes, and of the specific strategies and timetables for achieving the above goals;
(2) as it is learnt that the current tight supply of long-haul flights and high level of airfares in Hong Kong have led some long-haul passengers to transfer via neighbouring regions, whether the Government will formulate specific policies to attract foreign and Mainland aviation businesses to Hong Kong, and negotiate with the European Union arrangements for expansion of traffic rights; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) as it is reported that data indicate that cargo volume among neighbouring cities and even other aviation hubs in the Asia-Pacific region are growing rapidly, which might threaten Hong Kong's leading position in air cargo, of the corresponding strategies adopted by the authorities?
Reply:
President,
With the full commissioning of the Three-runway System, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) can serve 120 million passenger trips and handle 10 million tonnes of cargo annually, providing ample room for the development of airlines. The deepening of regional competition and co-operation is reshaping the landscape of aviation hubs in the Asia-Pacific region. Hong Kong is fully aligning with the national 15th Five-Year Plan outline. The Government will follow the direction set out in Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan to leverage and consolidate HKIA's status as a key aviation hub. In response to the questions raised by the Hon Kenneth Fok, our reply is as follows:
(1) and (2) The Government has consistently adopted a policy-led approach to proactively plan and optimise the allocation of traffic rights, and has signed up to 87 bilateral air services documents to date. When selecting aviation partners, in addition to current traffic volume and economic benefits, we place significant emphasis on their strategic value and future business opportunities. Taking resource-rich countries such as Brazil, Peru, and Kazakhstan as examples, they are seeking to establish closer trade ties with other regions. Furthermore, regions such as South America, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa also possess substantial untapped commercial and trade potential. Through policy-driven expansion of traffic rights, we are opening up high-potential emerging markets to inject long-term growth momentum into Hong Kong's international aviation hub.
As for traditional markets such as Europe, we spare no effort in strengthening our ties. We have already signed bilateral air services arrangements with more than 80 per cent of European Union (EU) member states so far, including all major ones. In recent years, we have also updated or expanded bilateral air services arrangements with member states such as Luxembourg and Malta, and concluded a new bilateral air services agreement with Poland. We will continue to actively work with EU member states to explore the best ways to deepen bilateral relations.
At the same time, the outcomes of the Government's traffic rights negotiations, the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK)'s business expansion efforts and airlines' co-operation must be integrated to build a synergistic mechanism of "policy, market and operation". This will translate these outcomes into substantial network coverage. For instance, the launch of direct flights to Kazakhstan by a local airline in January next year serves as a prime example.
To fully unleash the potential of HKIA, the top priority is to rapidly and steadily expand capacity amid the global aircraft shortage. The AAHK launched the Air Network Development Programme in June 2024, which provides financial incentives to encourage airlines to launch new routes (particularly long-haul routes) and increase flight frequencies on existing routes. As at end of September 2026, the Programme has attracted 40 airlines to launch 95 new routes covering five continents, as well as to increase flight frequencies on 15 existing routes. The AAHK has also encouraged various overseas airlines to resume routes and has made good progress. Among them, Etihad Airways and Delta Air Lines have resumed flight services to and from Hong Kong, connecting to Abu Dhabi and Los Angeles respectively. The AAHK also signed a memorandum of understanding with Uzbekistan's Fly Khiva Group earlier to establish a comprehensive passenger and cargo air network.
(3) HKIA was named the world's busiest cargo airport in 2025, marking the 15th time it has earned this distinction since 2010. Annual cargo volume reached 5.07 million tonnes, representing a 2.7 per cent year-over-year growth. Cargo volume also remained robust in the first three quarters of this year, rising 3.3 per cent year-over-year to 3.78 million tonnes. The Government's First Five-Year Plan for Hong Kong explicitly commits to consolidating Hong Kong's position as an international aviation hub and has set "maintaining world-leading position in air cargo throughput" as one of our primary strategic objectives.
The Government will focus on implementing five major development goals to upgrade the sector strategically and build a highly resilient aviation logistics network: first, establishing air logistics super-highways; second, leading the efficient operation of innovative intermodal transport; third, promoting the diversification of air cargo structure; fourth, deeply integrating with and aligning to the reshaping of supply chains; and fifth, digitalising air cargo processes.
Firstly, we are actively attracting airlines to expand their operations in Hong Kong. Through the Freighter Network Development Programme launched by the AAHK in March of this year, the Government is encouraging airlines to increase their freighter services. In just half a year, we have successfully attracted 14 airlines to add a total of 80 weekly flights. We are also working with the AAHK to strategically attract foreign airlines to use Hong Kong as their second hub by combining air rights arrangements with other operational incentives. For example, Qatar Airways Cargo relocated its regional headquarters to Hong Kong in August 2026 and signed a memorandum of understanding with the AAHK to increase flight frequencies and develop more new routes via Hong Kong. We expect more positive developments to follow.
As for intermodal connectivity, the AAHK is taking forward the development of HKIA Dongguan Logistics Park (Logistics Park) to transport air cargo from the GBA to HKIA for processing more efficiently. Since the launch of the pilot program, the Logistics Park has handled cargo with a cumulative value exceeding 57 billion RMB. When the Logistics Park commences commercial operations in June next year, it will serve as a model for GBA co-operation. It will not only reduce costs and time but also integrate Chinese Mainland resources with the international standards of HKIA across various aspects, embodying institutional innovation.
In addition, the AAHK, in collaboration with relevant departments in Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, has launched the Air-Land Fresh Lane which streamlines customs clearance and quarantine procedures to facilitate the rapid entry of high-quality fresh products into the GBA market.
Finally, in tandem with the development of physical infrastructure and cross-border logistics networks, we are also actively promoting the digitisation of the air cargo supply chain.
Thank you, President.
Ends/Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:38
Issued at HKT 16:38
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