Passenger numbers growing at Hong Kong International Airport

(HONG KONG, 11 September 1999) - Latest figures show an encouraging rise in the number of passengers passing through Hong Kong International Airport, the Airport Authority (AA) said today.

Provisional figures show there were 2,816,000 passengers in July this year compared with 2,570,000 in July 1998 - a rise of more than 9 per cent.

Figures for August showed a 5 per cent rise - 2,869,000 this year compared with 2,735,000 in August 1998.

The airport's record daily throughput of 117,000 passengers, achieved on 21 February 1999 during the peak Lunar New Year holiday season, was reached again on 16 July, at the start of the Hong Kong school summer break. There were 111,000 passengers on 23 August and 113,000 on 24 August.

There were 480 aircraft movements on 1, 6, 13, 15 and 20 August, or 30 more than average.

Total cargo daily throughput was also encouraging, reaching 6,250 tonnes on 1 August, 6,200 tonnes on 29 August and 6,100 tonnes on 11 July.

Monthly cargo throughput also showed signs of increase. While the very large increase over July and August last year can be attributed to airport opening problems that persisted until well into August, this year's figures show a moderate increase over the same period in 1997.

MONTHLY CARGO THROUGHPUT (TONNES)

1997

July -- 152,742

August -- 153,237

1998

July -- 95,221

August -- 120,535

1999

July -- 165,000 (prov)

August -- 160,000 (prov)

"We are very happy with the latest figures," AA Chief Executive Officer Billy Lam said. "They are yet another indicator to back recent announcements that the local and regional economy is on path to recovery."

Ref. PR-456