Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) cargo volumes grew 3.2 per cent in 2016 having welcomed a number of new airlines and strong growth in December.

HKIA handled over 4.5 million tonnes in 2016, with particularly strong year-on-year growth in December of 11.3 per cent to 435,000 tonnes, when it welcomed Vietjet Air services to Ho Chi Minh City and T’way Air flights to Daegu in South Korea.

In December, transhipments were up 15 per cent and exports by 12 per cent, with trade to and from Southeast Asia, North America and Europe growing most significantly.

Airport Authority Hong Kong chief executive officer, Fred Lam says: “During the past year, HKIA achieved new daily records in flight movements and cargo volume, reaching 1,270 flight movements and handling over 16,700 tonnes of cargo.”

HKIA welcomed new services from Austrian Airlines, Bismallah Airlines, Malindo Air, T’way Air and VietJet Air with eight new destinations to Madrid, Saipan, London Gatwick, Nha Trang, Chiang Rai, Ishigaki, Takamatsu and Yonago.