Beneficiaries of new Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge

Yesterday, the world’s longest sea bridge, connecting Hong Kong with Macau and the city of Zhuhai in mainland China was declared open for passage. The bridge is expected to cut travel time between Zhuhai and Hong Kong down from 240 minutes to seventy-five minutes, dramatically expanding the potential catchment areas of Pearl River Delta airports. […]

• Caryn Livingston and Charles Kauffman
• October 23, 2018

Is Alibaba’s new joint venture at Hong Kong International Airport a game changer?

Last week, Alibaba’s logistics-affiliate, Cainiao, announced plans to open five global hubs in Asia, Europe and the Middle East “to meet the surging cross-border e-commerce needs”. Today, Hangzhou-based Cainiao unveiled a separate US$1.5 billion investment in a joint-venture logistics center at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), what will effectively be the sixth hub. With six […]

• Charles Kauffman
• June 6, 2018

Top 20 cargo airports in 2017

According to preliminary data from the Airports Council International, total cargo handled (loaded and unloaded freight and mail) by airports worldwide in 2017 was up 7.9% over 2016 to about 118 million tonnes. International freight handled was up 9.9% to about 73 million tonnes, accounting for 62% of the total volume. Looking at the total […]

• David Harris
• April 9, 2018

Demand grows in Hong Kong and Singapore

When we published our first look at February cargo demand last week there were still a few of the major players to be heard from – Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airlines, and Hong Kong International Airport in Asia; and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Europe. All four of those laggards have now published their February data, […]

• David Harris
• March 20, 2018

Hong Kong International breaks the 5 million tonne barrier

For much of 2017, Hong Kong International Airport’s year-over-year cargo handle growth was in double digits. With tougher 2016 comparisons, that growth rate dropped slightly in November and December, but December’s 6.3% y-o-y increase was enough to push HKG’s full year handle over 5 million tonnes – the first airport ever to hit that mark. […]

• David Harris
• January 22, 2018

Tianjin Cargo Airlines prepares to fly, as HNA looks to the future

China-based all-cargo startup Tianjin Cargo Airlines received certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and will likely start service in early 2018. The carrier is a joint venture among three consortia (Tianjin Aviation Logistics Development Co., Ltd., Sky Holdings Co., Ltd., and Yang Hang Investment) that are controlled by heavy-hitting players in the industry, […]

• David Harris
• November 22, 2017

HACTL in the midst of record peak, even as growth rates are slow

Despite slowing year-over-year growth rates in monthly annual comparisons, demand for air freight is still extremely strong. Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) reported it had broken three records during the first week of November, indicating the industry’s position in the middle of a great peak season. For the first time ever, on 5 […]

• Charles Kauffman
• November 15, 2017

World’s Top 50 Cargo Airports — Part I

According to data supplied by the Airports Council International (ACI), airports worldwide handled a total of 103.1 million tonnes of freight (not including mail) in 2016, up 4.0% over the 2015 total. Of the almost 2,500 ACI member airports, 1,600 reported handling some freight, with the fifty busiest airports handling 69.1 million tonnes, 67.1% of […]

• David Harris
• November 2, 2017