In this undated photo, a jet taxies at Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok in the New Territories. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong International Airport handled 40 million passengers in 2023, a six-fold increase from the previous year and a new post-pandemic high, according to the Airport Authority Hong Kong.

The airport also handled 276,000 flight movements, or double the figure in 2022 while total cargo throughput saw an annual growth of 3.2 percent to 4.3 million tonnes, AAHK said in a statement.

For the month of December 2023, passenger volume increased 1.7 times to 4.3 million year-on-year, with the daily passenger volume reaching 80 percent of the pre-pandemic level during the Christmas holiday peak

For the month of December 2023, passenger volume increased 1.7 times to 4.3 million year-on-year, with the daily passenger volume reaching 80 percent of the pre-pandemic level during the Christmas holiday peak.

Passenger traffic at HKIA is expected to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024, the AAHK said.

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It said all passenger segments experienced significant year-on-year growth in December, with traffic to and from Southeast Asia, the Chinese mainland and Taiwan region recording the most significant increases.

Flight movements in December rose year-on-year by 89 percent to 30,000, exceeding 80 percent of the pre-pandemic level, AAHK said.

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Cargo throughput during the month also increased by 19.3 percent year-on-year to 418,000 tonnes, with a 33.4-percent rise recorded in exports. Traffic to and from key trading regions in North America, the Middle East and Europe saw the most substantial increases.