HKIA is Cargo Airport of the Year 2003

(HONG KONG, 15 May 2003) – Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has been named Cargo Airport of the Year – 2003 by the air cargo trade publication Air Cargo News. This is the second consecutive year for HKIA to have received this award.

Speaking at today's groundbreaking ceremony for the Express Cargo Terminal, Airport Authority (AA) Chief Executive Officer, Dr David J Pang said "I am delighted to have this further recognition of our services to air cargo customers. It is a great honour to be chosen once more against strong competition from around the world.

According to the judging panel of Air Cargo News, HKIA was selected for its quality customer services, flexible slot times, consistent investment in new facilities and infrastructures, innovation in applying technology, and liberal approach to traffic rights.

"The award is a reflection of our continuous innovation and improvement in terms of cargo handling. It is good to be able to announce the award today when we are marking the groundbreaking for yet another new cargo facility at HKIA, the Express Cargo Terminal which is being developed by DHL Worldwide Express."

The Express Cargo Terminal will be operated under franchise by DHL for a period of 15 years with a start scheduled for 2004. The HKIA's first dedicated Express Cargo Terminal will occupy an area of 18,200 sqm – equivalent to 60 tennis courts – and will be able to handle approximately 440 tonnes of cargo a day (involving about 20,000 shipments per hour at peak throughput) after opening.

Dr Pang remarked that "The groundbreaking for the Terminal is an important occasion to demonstrate our commitment in growing the cargo business at HKIA. Over the past 12 months, cargo throughput has increased by 18.6% to reach 2.55 million tonnes. This has been realised with the contribution of our many business partners and it is their achievement that has been recognised with the title Cargo Airport of the Year."

There are two main cargo terminal operators at HKIA, Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd (Hactl) and Asia Airfreight Terminal Ltd (AAT), and they provide a combined annual capacity of 3 million tonnes. Hactl's SuperTerminal 1 is the world's largest standalone cargo handling facility, accounting for some 80% of cargo throughput at HKIA. HKIA has been the world's busiest airport for international air cargo since 1996. Whilst air cargo represents only 1% of Hong Kong's total cargo throughput, it accounts for 27% of total trade value.

The new Express Cargo Terminal will increase the capacity of the airport to handle express cargo which is the fastest growing sector of the overall air cargo business. Express cargo is expected to grow at about 13% a year for the next 20 years. The market share of express cargo is forecast to increase from the current 7% to 13% of the overall air cargo market at HKIA.

Dr Pang explained that DHL's adoption of the Express Cargo Terminal as its Central Asia express logistics and aviation hub reflected the status of HKIA as the superhub for international and regional air cargo and intermodal logistics. "This hub role will of course be further strengthened by the new business brought to HKIA by DHL. I'm eager to see this Terminal up and running, perhaps by this time next year."

The Express Cargo Terminal will be another facility supporting the seamless network of air-land-sea intermodal transport which drives the push of air cargo into HKIA from its key catchment area in the Pearl River Delta. This network includes a Marine Cargo Terminal, which provides direct links to 20 ports in the Pearl River Delta, and a total of 17 destinations throughout the Delta region for bonded truck transport.

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Photo caption: For the second year in a row, Hong Kong International Airport was named Cargo Airport of the Year by the London-based Air Cargo News, a leading international air cargo trade publication.