Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) delivered a sound financial performance, recording a profit of HK$2.457 billion ($312.9 million), pushed by double-digit increases in both passenger and cargo traffic in the 2024-25 fiscal year that ended on March 31.
The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) released its latest annual report on Wednesday, saying that on the back of traffic growth and higher revenue, the board decided to pay a dividend of HK$1.3 billion to its sole owner, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government. This marks the first dividend payment since the authority started to retain surpluses for the financing of its three-runway system project in the 2014-15 fiscal year.
In the past fiscal year, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA)’s passenger traffic grew 21.6 percent year-on-year to 54.9 million, with flight movements rising more than 20 percent to 373,050, the report said. Its cargo volume climbed to 5 million metric tons, up 10.3 percent.
READ MORE: HKIA world's busiest cargo airport, 9th in passenger traffic
The airport’s presence in the air cargo community has also grown as it is ramping up efforts to strengthen its position as a major international air cargo gateway for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The value of cargo moved through HKIA Dongguan Logistics Park – a facility that provides novel sea–air intermodal transshipment services for airfreight – increased to around 18 billion yuan in 2024-25, according to the report.
The airport retained its position as the world’s busiest cargo airport last year while being named ninth busiest for passenger traffic, according to the Airports Council International.
The airport’s route network continues to expand. With 27 airlines starting new routes or expanding services, there were around 140 airlines serving the airport at the end of 2024-25, connecting to more than 200 destinations, the report said.
Fred Lam Tin-fuk, chairman of AAHK, said the past year was “pivotal” as the airport achieved several key milestones, including the completion of its three-runway system.
“The three-runway system was commissioned on time and within budget in November 2024, boosting the airport’s annual capacity by 50 percent and strengthening our status as one of the world’s largest and most important aviation hubs,” Lam said.
Another development which Lam described as “game-changing” was an agreement between HKIA and Zhuhai Airport, under which the Hong Kong airport will acquire a 35 percent share of the latter.
The chairman said the move will unlock the potential of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB), enhancing connectivity between the SAR and other Chinese mainland cities.
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“Through this collaboration, global businesses will be able to further penetrate the China market efficiently, while travelers will enjoy the convenience of reaching different parts of the mainland.”
Lam said that a new development project, SKYTOPIA, which was unveiled in January, received a positive market response. The project envisions creating a world-class destination for visitors and residents that integrates entertainment, popular culture, yachting, art trading and storage, and leisure.
“With the aim of developing into a destination in its own right and a new landmark in Asia, SKYTOPIA will be an engine that propels the economic growth and development of Hong Kong,” Lam added.
Contact the writer at gabylin@chinadailyhk.com
