HONG KONG, 24 August 2026: Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) handled 5.62 million passengers and 34,230 flight movements in July 2026, marking year-on-year increases of 8.4% and 1.7% respectively.
Overall passenger growth in July was primarily driven by a double-digit increase in transfer/transit passengers, with Hong Kong residents and visitors posting modest gains. Most markets expanded in July, while the decline in the Middle East continued to narrow.
Over the first seven months of the year, passenger volume saw 11.2% year-on-year growth to 38.4 million, while flight movements increased by 4.0% to 234,905. On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volume rose by 12.6% year-on-year to 64.8 million, while flight movements increased by 5.3% to 403,670.
On the cargo front, cargo volume recorded a year-on-year decline of 1.9% to 422,000 tonnes in July 2026. During the month, transshipments and imports recorded 14.5% and 2.9% growth, respectively, while exports declined by 8.4% year-on-year. By region, Southeast Asia and the Chinese Mainland remained resilient, helping to offset softer traffic from Europe and North America amid shifting global trade patterns.
From January to July this year, cargo traffic grew 14% in Southeast Asia and 11% in Europe, offsetting declines in North America and the Middle East and driving total cargo throughput over the seven months up 3.2% year on year to 2.92 million tonnes. Over the past 12 months, total cargo throughput grew 3.2% year on year to 5.16 million tonnes.
Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) Director of Hub Development, Airport Chapman Fong said: “The global air cargo market continues to navigate a complex operating environment shaped by a changing trade landscape. Despite these challenges, HKIA’s extensive air network and exceptional efficiency have enabled air cargo operators to adapt by rapidly rerouting cargo and adjusting logistics arrangements. The growth in markets like Southeast Asia and the Chinese Mainland underscores the resilience of Hong Kong’s role as a leading international cargo hub.”
Meanwhile, HKIA has been named the Most Influential Airport Brand of the Year 2025 by Civil Aviation Passenger Service Evaluation (CAPSE), an independent civil aviation evaluation body in the Chinese Mainland. The award was based on an assessment of 44 major airports in the region, each handling more than 10 million passengers annually. Evaluation criteria included factors such as brand awareness, brand trust and innovation capability, drawing on the perceptions and experiences of travellers in the Chinese Mainland.
AAHK Executive Director Corporate Development William Ho said: “We are honoured to be recognised as the Most Influential Airport Brand by CAPSE. As the preferred international gateway for the Greater Bay Area, HKIA has been strengthening its connectivity with the region and the Chinese Mainland through an extensive intermodal transport network, providing passengers with seamless access to destinations worldwide. HKIA will continue to strengthen its position as Asia’s leading aviation hub by enhancing the passenger journey through smart technologies, operational excellence and customer-centric services.”
(Source: AAHK)
