Hong Kong Airport reports 91% decrease in passenger numbers in March

Hong Kong Airport Authority (AA) has reported that 576,000 passengers travelled through the airport in March, which marks a decrease of 91% compared to the same month last year.

Hong Kong International Airport’s total flight movements last month totalled 12,115, a decline of 67% compared to the same period last year.

The total cargo handled was 378,000t, a fall of 12.4% compared to March 2018.

This decline is due to the travel and immigration restrictions imposed by other countries due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The cargo traffic between Hong Kong and Southeast Asia and Europe was the most impacted, with a decrease of 42% in transshipments.

Airport Authority Airport Operations executive director Vivian Cheung said: “The whole airport community is encountering unprecedented hardship amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“In addition to assisting in the implementation of quarantine measures by the Department of Health, our airport staff have been working diligently to ensure the protection against the virus at HKIA.

“I would like to express my appreciation of their professionalism, dedication and endurance. Members of the airport community shall continue to work closely during this very challenging time and tide over the difficulties together.”

In the first quarter of the year, HKIA served 8.2 million passengers, which is a 56.5% year-on-year decrease. The flight movements fell by 40.1%.

Last week, AA introduced a new relief package worth HK$2bn ($258m) to aid the airlines’ aviation support services operators during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hong Kong International Airport has also extended the suspension of transit / transfer services at the airport.