Hong Kong: Encouraging local airlines to expand and increase flights to support Hong Kong's overall development.

In written response, the Director of the Transport and Logistics Bureau of Hong Kong, Cherry Tse, stated that when airlines expand new routes or increase flight frequency, they consider factors such as market demand and company resource allocation. The Hong Kong SAR government has always encouraged local airlines to expand and increase flights to support Hong Kong's overall development. It is reported that in 2024, the number of regular flights (passenger and cargo) between Hong Kong International Airport and overseas destinations (excluding mainland China and Taiwan) increased by about 30% compared to 2023. In addition, the number of airlines operating these flights in 2024 also saw a significant increase of about 20% over 2023. By the end of January 2025, Hong Kong has signed 80 bilateral civil aviation agreements. Over the past two years, Hong Kong has expanded bilateral civil aviation arrangements with multiple partners, increasing the capacity limit for related passenger and cargo services by at least 60%, allowing airlines to increase passenger and cargo services in response to market demand. Data shows that Hong Kong International Airport continued to show strong recovery momentum in 2024, with significant growth in air traffic data. In January 2025, the flight movements and passenger volume at Hong Kong International Airport reached new post-pandemic highs, reflecting a complete recovery of passenger volume to pre-pandemic levels. Compared to the same month last year, all categories of passengers, including Hong Kong residents, visitors, and transit passengers, saw double-digit growth. The most significant increase in passenger volume came from Southeast Asia, mainland China, and Japan. Meanwhile, the upward trend in cargo volume continued, with all categories recording positive growth. In January, the most significant increase in cargo volume came from major trading regions such as the Middle East, Europe, and Australasia. Tse pointed out that with the implementation of the third runway system, the passenger and cargo handling capacity of Hong Kong International Airport will see a significant increase. The Hong Kong SAR government will continue to maintain close communication with local airlines to ensure they continuously improve their service levels, providing stable and reliable services to bring exceptional service experience to passengers. At the same time, Hong Kong has also requested that the flight network planning of local airlines align with the government's strategy to consolidate Hong Kong's position as an international aviation hub and support local strategic development needs.