Cargo volume increased to 435,000 tonnes with a 3.0% year-on-year growth during the month.

Overall passenger growth in May was supported by a double-digit increase in transfer / transit passengers, followed by visitors. During the Chinese Mainland’s Labour Day “Golden Week” holiday, daily passengers peaked at 204,000 on 1 May. By region, most markets expanded in May, with growth led by the Mainland, Japan and Southeast Asia.

Overall cargo growth was primarily driven by transhipment, followed by imports, which recorded year‑on‑year increases of 23.2% and 1.2%, respectively. By region, cargo performance was mixed, with growth in the Mainland and Southeast Asia offsetting declines in markets such as India. Notably, the Middle East saw modest growth in May, marking its first expansion since the outbreak of the conflicts in March.

HKIA’s global network has further expanded, with Delta Air Lines returning to HKIA with new services between Hong Kong and Los Angeles, offering seven pairs of flights per week from 8 June, strengthening HKIA’s connectivity with North America. Sun PhuQuoc Airways also launched new services to Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam, while Hong Kong Airlines launched a new route to Lanzhou in May.

For the first five months of the year, passenger volume rose by 12.5% year on year to 27.7 million, while flight movements increased by 4.8% year on year to 168,745. Cargo throughput recorded a 3.6% increase to 2.06 million tonnes compared to the same period of last year.

On a 12-month rolling basis, HKIA handled 64.0 million passengers and 402,415 flight movements, experiencing year-on-year increases of 13.0% and 6.1% respectively. Cargo volume grew by 3.0% year on year to 5.14 million tonnes.

(Source: HKIA)

The post HKIA’s air traffic soars in May appeared first on TTR Weekly.

The launch follows the confirmation of services linking WSI to Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, connecting some of Australia’s most popular holiday destinations to a brand-new 24-hour international airport.

While the initial flight schedule is modest, ATIA says the significance of what WSI represents to the broader travel network is substantial.

From 25 October 2026, Jetstar will operate up to 14 flights a week between WSI and Melbourne, four weekly flights to the Gold Coast, and three weekly flights to Brisbane. From 28 March 2027, Qantas will add four weekly services to both Brisbane and Melbourne, operated by QantasLink Embraer E190 aircraft.

For travel agents and tour operators across the country, the arrival of a new gateway into Greater Sydney opens genuine new options for building domestic itineraries and packages, particularly for the fast-growing Western Sydney catchment area. More flights mean more options for travellers, and more opportunities for travel businesses to serve a broader range of customers.

WSI will also become a significant freight hub, with the airport’s integrated 24-hour Cargo Precinct opening on 26 July 2026 and Qantas Freight among the first operators to fly from the facility.

ATIA CEO Dean Long commented: “This is exciting news for Australian travellers and for the travel industry. Yes, it is a small number of flights to start with, but they connect to some genuine holiday hot spots and mark the beginning of what WSI will grow into.

“More flights always mean more options for travellers, and more options mean more business for the travel agents and tour operators who are there to help Australians plan their trips.

“Western Sydney International is a transformative addition to Australia’s travel landscape. It gives millions of people in western Sydney direct access to the network for the first time, and it gives the whole country a new gateway. We look forward to watching this airport grow and to the increased connectivity it will bring for Australian travellers.”

Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) is located 41 km west of Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) and 44 km from downtown Sydney.  

Designated a 24-hour airport, in contrast to Kingsford Smith, which has a nighttime curfew for landings and take-offs, WSI will open for commercial passenger flights on 25 October, with a single 3.7 km-long runway and a terminal building capable of handling 10 million passengers annually. That compares with 41 million passengers that move through Kingsford Smith (SYD).

Singapore Airlines will serve WSI from its Singapore home base starting daily flights effective 23 November 2026.

(Source: ATIA)

The post ATIA welcomes WSI domestic flights appeared first on TTR Weekly.

Hong Kong Airlines is the first airline to relocate its check-in counters from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2. The departure process in T2 ran smoothly on its first day of operation, with 36 flights departing from around 0800. Relocation of the other 14 airlines’ check-in services will continue in batches until 10 June.

T2 is served by a full suite of public transport options: Airport Express, airport buses and taxis. Car Park 3, providing over 1,000 spaces, is seamlessly connected to T2.   

A wide range of retail shops and a food court have also opened at T2, offering diverse dining and shopping options. Four dining outlets in the food court and a convenience store will operate around the clock.

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), Chief Executive Officer Vivian Cheung said: “Positioned to serve leisure travel and mainly regional short-haul flights, T2 is seamlessly connected to and complements T1, which mainly focuses on long-haul and transfer/ transit services. Together, the two terminals strengthen HKIA’s capacity to meet growing passenger demand while enhancing passenger experience.”

Passengers departing from T2 complete check-in and bag drop using new smart self-service counters before proceeding to the centre of the departures hall and entering the restricted area through security gates embedded with facial recognition technology. They then undergo security screening at the smart security screening channels and complete immigration clearance procedures before taking the Automated People Mover (APM) to T1 for boarding.

In the next phase, T2 passengers will be using the boarding gates in the new T2 Concourse (T2C) for both departures and arrivals. T2C is expected to start operation before the end of next year, in line with traffic demand.

(Source: HKIA).

The post A smooth first day for HKIA’s brand new T2 appeared first on TTR Weekly.

Fifteen airlines relocated their check-in services to T2 on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, when T2’s departure facilities were activated.

AAHK Chairman Fred Lam remarked at the event: “The opening of T2 is another milestone of HKIA’s development. Positioned as a terminal for leisure travel, T2’s design prioritises efficiency and passenger comfort. We attend to every detail, leveraging technology extensively to enable efficient self-check-in, self-bag drop and smooth immigration clearance. We believe T2 would be popular among passengers, in particular young travellers.”

Spanning 300,000 sqm, T2 is designed to serve both departing and arriving passengers. On 27 May, the departure facilities will be commissioned, with the arrival facilities expected to commence operations next year, in line with traffic demand. 

The departures hall of T2 features eight check-in aisles, P to W, with 68 express self-bag-drop counters, 58 smart check-in kiosks, and 108 hybrid check-in counters. All self-bag-drop counters and hybrid counters feature an ultra-low platform design, allowing passengers to place their bags on the conveyor belt with ease. The 20 e-Security Gates at the entrances to the restricted area are all embedded with facial recognition technology. In tandem with T2 opening on 27 May, the minimum age for using facial recognition at e-Security Gates will be lowered from 11 to 7 in both Terminal 1 and T2.

Inside the restricted area, all 15 smart security screening channels at T2 allow passengers to keep their laptops and bottled liquids under 100ml in their carry-on luggage while undergoing screening. The Immigration Department has set up 35 e-Channels and 60 counters for departing passengers.

Large LED displays of different shapes and sizes are installed at different levels of T2, with 3D contents and ocean-themed videos creating a vibrant atmosphere. The food court at the departures hall serves passengers with eight catering outlets, four of which operate around the clock. At the same time, 12 shops offer a variety of products, including travel necessities and souvenirs.

The opening ceremony at T2 was held alongside the HKIA Reception 2026, where AAHK and 40 business partners, including airlines, cargo terminals, and ground handling agents, showcased their latest developments and innovations across various experience zones and booths. After the opening ceremony and reception on 23 and 24 May, the experience zones and booths will be transformed into the HKIA Expo & Career Fair 2026, featuring more than 4,400 job vacancies at the airport.

(Source: HKIA)

The post Airlines move to HKIA’s Terminal 2 appeared first on TTR Weekly.

Cargo volume increased to 423,000 tonnes with a 4.9% year-on-year growth during the month.

Overall passenger growth in April was supported by the Easter holiday, with daily passenger traffic peaking on 3 April at over 210,000 passengers. By passenger segment, transfer/transit passengers continued to lead in growth, followed by visitors entering the territory. 

By region, most markets expanded in April, led by the Chinese Mainland and Southeast Asia, while the Middle East was the only region to contract amid ongoing conflicts.

Overall cargo growth was mainly driven by transhipment, followed by imports, which recorded year‑on‑year increases of 20.2% and 6.5%, respectively, as the decline in exports narrowed to 0.3% year-on-year. By region, cargo performance was mixed. Growth in Europe and Southeast Asia continued to offset declines in markets such as North America and the Middle East.

For the first four months of the year, passenger volume rose by 13.0% year on year to 22.3 million, while flight movements increased by 5.1% year on year to 135,090. Cargo throughput recorded a 3.7% increase to 1.63 million tonnes compared to the same period of last year. 

On a 12-month rolling basis, HKIA handled 63.54 million passengers and 401,240 flight movements, experiencing year-on-year increases of 13.7% and 6.6% respectively. Cargo volume grew by 2.9% year on year to 5.12 million tonnes.

In the Airports Council International’s (ACI) Green Airports Recognition 2026, HKIA’s “HKIA Flood Resilience Studies” project clinched the Platinum Award in the category of over 40 million passengers per annum.

Organised by ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, the Green Airports Recognition aims to promote the best environmental practices to minimise aviation’s environmental impact. The theme of this year’s award is “Climate Change Adaptation”, recognising airports for their outstanding performance in adapting to climate change.

(Source: HKIA)

The post Air Traffic at HKIA continues to grow in April appeared first on TTR Weekly.

Based on over 700,000 member ratings and reviews, the Escape Lounge at Portland International Airport was named Global Lounge of the Year. 

Regional Lounge of the Year winners included Lounge Fukuoka in Japan (APAC), Vienna Lounge in Austria (Europe), Club Kingston in Jamaica (Latin America and the Caribbean), and Bidvest Premier Lounge in Johannesburg, South Africa (Middle East and Africa).

The Lounge of the Year award celebrates the highest-rated lounges across the global Priority Pass network, as rated by Priority Pass members. Member ratings and reviews across a range of criteria are assessed, including the quality of facilities, the standard of customer service, the food and beverage selection, comfort, ambience, and overall member satisfaction.

Overall Global Winner: Escape Lounges, Portland International Airport, US

Blending contemporary design with a strong sense of local identity, the Escape Lounge at Portland International Airport stood out for delivering an experience that feels distinctly rooted in its surroundings. Set within one of North America’s most design-led airport environments, the lounge reflects a broader shift towards more thoughtful, place-driven experiences that resonate with travellers.

Regional Winner (APAC): Lounge Fukuoka, Fukuoka International Airport, Japan

In APAC, Lounge of the Year was awarded to Lounge Fukuoka at Fukuoka International Airport, in recognition of delivering an elevated experience that makes the lounge a destination in its own right. Designed with a bright and open layout, the space offers close-up views of the runway and parked aircraft, complemented by a serene, wood-toned aesthetic that promotes comfort and relaxation. This is enhanced by authentic dining experiences featuring local specialities such as Tonkotsu Ramen and Kashiwa Rice, alongside seasonal local sake and Costa Coffee, thereby celebrating the region’s distinct culinary identity. 

APAC winners 

Winner: Lounge Fukuoka – Japan

Highly Commended: Kyra Lounge (near Gate 23) – Hong Kong 

One to watch 

New for 2026, the One to Watch category shines a spotlight on the lounges that have significantly raised their game over the past 12 months, as reflected in Priority Pass member ratings and reviews. These standout spaces show a clear, ongoing commitment to enhancing the overall experience and quickly establishing themselves as future leaders within the category. In APAC, the refreshed KoCoo Lounge at Tokyo Narita International Airport was crowned One to Watch. 

This year’s awards reflect a clear shift in what defines excellence in the airport experience. In 2026, travellers are placing greater value on experiences that feel genuinely considered rather than simply convenient. 

“Now in its 18th year, the Priority Pass Excellence Awards continue to showcase the very best of our global network, and each year, our partners raise the bar even higher,” said Collinson International CEO Christopher Evans. “With demand for premium travel experiences at an all-time high, travellers are increasingly looking to make every moment of their journey more meaningful and memorable. Travellers today expect versatility, quality, and genuine local experience, and our partners are delivering on all three. The Lounge of the Year and One to Watch categories recognise the partners who consistently go above and beyond to deliver exceptional moments that truly enhance the journey for our members.”

(Source: Priority Pass)

The post Priority Pass reveals best airport lounges appeared first on TTR Weekly.

Sun Group, one of Vietnam’s largest private conglomerates, has partnered with SITA to lead this transformation. To support Vietnam’s rapidly growing air travel demand, the parties have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a framework for broader collaboration across Sun Group’s future airport developments in Vietnam.

Phu Quoc International Airport is projected to handle 24 million passengers annually once the new Terminal 2 opens, with long-term capacity designed to scale to 50 million. The development comes at a pivotal moment and will place Phu Quoc in the global spotlight as a rising destination in the Asia Pacific region.

Under the Phu Quoc project, SITA will deploy an end-to-end suite of airport technologies across the new terminal, delivering a fully self-service passenger experience. Travellers will be able to check in, select seats, print boarding passes and bag tags, drop their luggage, and board their flights through automated touchpoints.

The new terminal will feature SITA Flex Hybrid, supporting 204 common-use workstations for passenger processing. To secure operational resilience, SITA Local Departure Control System (DCS) will be deployed as a backup.

Passengers will use 150 SITA Smart Path kiosks for check-in, seat selection, boarding pass printing, and tagging of check-in bags; 100 SITA Smart Path Bag Drop (Scan & Go) units for self-service baggage drop; and 38 dual-lane SITA Smart Path Gates for automated boarding. All systems are seamlessly coordinated through the SITA Smart Path Hub biometric technology.

Real-time baggage tracking and reconciliation will be delivered through SITA Bag Manager Lite, supporting four baggage workstations and 20 handheld terminals. Airport operations will be powered by SITA Airport Operational Database (AODB), while passenger information will be managed by SITA AirportVision Evolved, covering 397 displays. Overall, airport operations will be overseen by SITA Airport Management, which will support 10 operational workstations.

The project, which began development in March 2026, is scheduled to open in July 2027.

“We are pleased to partner with SITA on this strategic collaboration to support the transformation of our airport portfolio. As we continue to invest in world-class aviation infrastructure, SITA’s proven expertise and end-to-end technology capabilities will play a key role in helping us deliver smarter, more efficient, and seamless passenger experiences,” said Sun Group. President Nguyen Chi Thanh.

The partnership extends beyond a single terminal. Sun Group has designated SITA as a key strategic technology partner for its broader airport transformation initiative in Vietnam. The operating model established at Phu Quoc will serve as a template for future developments, including Phan Thiet Airport and planned projects in Con Dao and Rach Gia. Over the next five years, Sun Group aims to expand its airport footprint to at least five locations across Vietnam, with each targeting the five-star Skytrax standard.

“Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the region, and this partnership with Sun Group marks a key milestone in supporting that growth with future-ready infrastructure. By bringing together SITA’s end-to-end airport technologies, we are delivering smarter, more efficient, and scalable airport operations,” added SITA President, Asia Pacific, Sumesh Patel. “As Phu Quoc evolves into a key aviation hub ahead of APEC 2027, we are proud to support Sun Group’s vision of delivering world-class passenger experiences while strengthening connectivity across Vietnam.”

Phu Quoc International Airport will be operated in partnership with Singapore’s Changi Airports International, bringing internationally recognised standards to what is fast becoming a major leisure destination. 

The airport upgrade forms part of a broader effort to integrate aviation with Sun Group’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem on the island, which includes luxury resorts, entertainment destinations, and Sun Phu Quoc Airways, launched in November 2025.

SITA and Sun Group have worked together since 2019, when SITA first delivered airport technology solutions at Van Don Airport. This new agreement deepens that relationship and reflects a shared commitment to advancing air travel infrastructure in Vietnam.

(Source: SITA)

The post Phu Quoc sets its sights on aviation hub status appeared first on TTR Weekly.

With more than 350,000 passengers connecting between Star Alliance member airlines at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) each year, it is one of the Alliance’s most critical global transfer hubs.

Designed to support passengers with tight connections between two Star Alliance member airline flights, SCC proactively identifies customers at risk of missing their onward journey due to their delayed incoming flight and expedites them to their next flight.

For Star Alliance passengers, the experience is simple: a smooth and seamless connection. Behind the scenes, however, teams across Star Alliance member airlines work together to make that possible. Dedicated agents monitor transfer windows using specialised software and step in to coordinate support — meeting passengers at the arrival gate and guiding them swiftly to their next flight.

Star Alliance has operated Connection Centres for more than a decade, supporting both passenger and baggage transfers at key hubs worldwide. In addition to Los Angeles, Star Connection Centres are located in Brussels (BRU), Chicago (ORD), Frankfurt (FRA) and Toronto (YYZ). At the same time, dedicated baggage-focused SCCs operate in Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR), Washington Dulles (IAD) and San Francisco (SFO).

At present, 16 Star Alliance member airlines serve Los Angeles: Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Copa Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines and United. Together, they operate more than 2,000 weekly flights to over 80 destinations across more than 20 countries.

(Source: Air India)

The post Star Alliance opens LAX Connection Centre appeared first on TTR Weekly.

In total, HKIA handled 5.42 million passenger trips and 32,100 flight movements in February, representing year-on-year increases of 20.1% and 10.5% respectively.

Cargo throughput continued to gain momentum, with cargo volume growing 11.6% year-on-year to 361,000 tonnes during the month.

Over the first two months of 2026, HKIA handled 10.93 million passenger trips and 66,545 flight movements, representing year-on-year growth of 11.7% and 6.2% respectively. 

The combined growth in passenger volume in January and February was driven mainly by a 30% year-on-year increase in transfer/transit passenger traffic. During the period, traffic to and from the Chinese Mainland and Southeast Asia contributed the most to the growth in passenger traffic.

The cargo throughput of the first two months of 2026 rose by 8.2% year-on-year, to 776,000 tonnes. The overall growth of cargo throughput for the first two months was mainly attributed to a 17% year-on-year increase in transhipments. Exports also recorded a 7% growth. Among the key trading regions, cargo throughput to and from Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East showed the largest increases.

On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volume rose by 14.0% year-on-year to 62.12 million, while flight movements increased by 7.9% to 398,565. Cargo throughput grew by 3.6% to 5.13 million tonnes.

The airport recently welcomed two new airlines: Chongqing Airlines, which connects to Chongqing, and Eastar Jet, which connects to Seoul. 

Air Busan, Chongqing Airlines, Greater Bay Airlines and T’Way Air also launched new routes to Seoul, Chongqing, Fukuoka, Pakse, Phuket and Busan, respectively, further expanding HKIA’s air traffic network.

(Source: HKIA)

The post Hong Kong’s February passenger traffic soars appeared first on TTR Weekly.

That also includes the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2026 and the Passenger Terminal Expo 2026, London.

Commenting on the ongoing hostilities, the airport authorities say the “safety and well-being of passengers, staff, and their families is, and remains, its absolute priority.”

Arabian Travel Market moves dates

Exhibitions have also fallen victim to the war and indiscriminate missile and drone attacks on the Gulf countries. On Wednesday, the exhibition organiser RX confirmed that the 2026 edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), originally scheduled to take place from 4 to 7 May 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, will now be held from 17 to 20 August 2026, with the venue remaining unchanged.

The decision to reschedule the event has been made to prioritise the safety and well-being of customers, partners and colleagues, and to give the global travel and tourism community greater confidence and flexibility to attend.

Meanwhile, in Doha, Qatar Airways reports that Qatar Civil Aviation Authority has approved operating corridors for a limited number of flights, and Qatar Airways will operate a revised limited schedule through 28 March to global hubs (for example: London, Paris, Bangkok) via the approved corridors.

The operational status of airports in the Gulf remains highly volatile and subject to sudden changes due to the ongoing regional conflict. As of 18 March  2026, most major hubs are in a “partial recovery” phase, operating with significantly reduced capacity and frequent temporary closures.

Qatar

Hamad International (DOH): Qatari airspace remains officially closed to standard commercial traffic.

Operational Status: Only a limited “authorised corridor” is currently open for specific repatriation and emergency flights.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Dubai International (DXB) & Al Maktoum (DWC): Both are open but operating at roughly 40-60% capacity.

Recent Incident: A drone strike on a fuel tank near DXB on 16 March caused a temporary suspension of all flights. Operations have since resumed, but schedules are fluid.

Travel Rule: Access to terminals is restricted to passengers with confirmed tickets only. Passengers should not head for the airport unless the airline has confirmed their flight.

Zayed International (AUH), Abu Dhabi: Partially open under a reduced schedule.

Status: Etihad has resumed service to approximately 70 destinations, though total airport movements remain below one-third of pre-conflict levels. Airspace was briefly closed on 17 March as a precaution.

Saudi Arabia

King Khalid International (RUH), Riyadh: Remains fully open and operational 24/7, though it is facing significant disruptions.

Regional suspensions: Saudia has suspended most routes to other Gulf destinations like Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha.

Security advisory: EASA has issued warnings regarding Saudi airspace due to high drone and missile interception activity in the region.

King Abdulaziz International (JED), Jeddah: Open and functioning, often serving as a primary alternative hub for traffic diverted from more active conflict zones.

Other regional hubs

Muscat, Oman (MCT): Currently, the most stable hub in the region. It remains fully operational and is acting as the primary relief airport for diverted flights and passenger transfers.

Kuwait and Bahrain: Both are in a “partial recovery” phase. Most international arrivals are still facing heavy cancellations or long diversions to avoid active military zones.

Current status of Gulf airports (18 March 2026)

(Source: Hamad International Airport plus additional reporting)

The post Doha airport axes overseas promotions appeared first on TTR Weekly.