Hong Kong International Airport pax up 8%, cargo down 1% in Apr-2012

Hong Kong International Airport passenger numbers up 8% - traffic highlights for Apr-2012:

• Passenger numbers: 4,859,000, +7.8% year-on-year;
• Cargo volume: 327,000 tonnes, -0.8%;
• Aircraft movements: 29,025, +4.8%. [more - original PR]

Hong Kong Airport stated Hong Kong residents were the main drivers behind the airport's passenger traffic growth with a 16% increase in Apr-2012 while routes to and from Japan, Southeast Asia and mainland China also "performed particularly well". The airport also attributes cargo decline to a 5% decline in imports and a 3% decline in transshipments. Cargo traffic to Southeast Asia outperformed other key regions, according to Hong Kong Airport.

Airport Authority Hong Kong: "While we are pleased to see the continued growth in passenger volume and aircraft movements, air traffic performance in the coming months may be under pressure given the uncertain economic outlook. Despite the short-term uncertainty, we remain optimistic of the long-term growth and development of the airport," Stanley Hui, CEO. Source: Hong Kong Airport, 20-May-2012.