The Hong Kong International Airport's operational data for the first half of this year, released by the Airport Authority (AA) on the 20th, shows that passenger and cargo volumes continue to improve. Fang Ruiwen, Director of Aviation Hub Development at the Hong Kong Airport Authority, stated that Hong Kong International Airport, relying on a strong aviation network and high-quality and efficient services, fully demonstrates the strong development resilience and market vitality of international aviation hubs.
Data shows that in the first half of this year, the passenger volume at Hong Kong International Airport increased by 11.7% year-on-year to 32.8 million people, and the number of aircraft takeoffs and landings increased by 4.4% year-on-year to about 200000. In terms of cargo transportation, the cargo volume of Hong Kong International Airport increased by 4.1% year-on-year to 2.5 million tons in the first half of the year.
At the "2026 World Air Cargo Awards" held by the logistics professional publication "Air Cargo Week" in June, Hong Kong International Airport won the "Airport of the Year - Important Cargo Hub" award for the second consecutive year, and was awarded the "Air Cargo Innovation Award" for its "Hong Kong Air Cargo Import Pickup Digital Pass" project. In the 2026 "Asia Cargo, Logistics and Supply Chain Awards" hosted by the well-known logistics and supply chain publication "Asia Cargo News" in June, Hong Kong International Airport was selected as the "Best Airport in the World" for the 11th consecutive year and once again won the "Best Airport in Asia" award.
Fang Ruiwen stated that Hong Kong International Airport has won multiple awards in the fields of cargo, logistics, and supply chain, which is a recognition of the hard work of all employees and further consolidates Hong Kong's leading position as a global air cargo hub.
Behind the smooth flow of people at the airport, business travel and various events are key supports. According to data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board, there were approximately 26.71 million visitors to Hong Kong in the first half of this year, a year-on-year increase of 13%. Yao Bailiang, a member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Chairman of China Travel Service Limited, stated in an interview with reporters that over a hundred high-quality large-scale events were held in Hong Kong in the first half of the year, effectively driving a significant increase in business passenger flow. At the same time, the Hong Kong SAR government and local airlines are actively expanding the international aviation network, adding overseas routes and destinations, and continuously connecting Hong Kong with various parts of the world, providing convenience for passengers traveling to and from Hong Kong.
Regarding the trend of Hong Kong's aviation and tourism industries in the second half of the year, Yao Bailiang stated that with the further improvement of Hong Kong's aviation network, more transit passengers will use Hong Kong as a transit point to enter mainland China or travel overseas, thereby driving the growth of air passenger traffic. In addition, major events such as the Hong Kong Football Festival and the Wine and Cuisine Festival will be held in the second half of the year, which will drive the linkage between the tourism and aviation industries, further unleashing the potential for synergistic development between Hong Kong's aviation industry, commerce, and cultural tourism industries. (Looking into the New Era)