H1 traffic growth at HKIA steady; new passenger terminal at SG airport set to open

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Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) announced steady growth in air cargo and passenger traffic in the first half of 2018.

From January to June of this year, HKIA handled 36.9 million passengers and 2.5 million tonnes of cargo and airmail, representing increases of 3.4% and 3.5%, respectively, over the same period last year.

Visitor traffic and Hong Kong resident travel were the key drivers for passenger growth. Cargo throughput growth was attributed largely to transshipments.

In June, passenger movements amounted to 6.2 million, representing year-on-year growth of 5.2%, while cargo and airmail handled added up to 424,000 tonnes, increasing 0.9%.

Hong Kong resident travel and visitor traffic grew by 9% and 8%, respectively, contributing the most to passenger growth. Passenger traffic to and from Southeast Asia, mainland China, and Japan recorded the most significant increases.

Transshipments saw a strong increase of 14%, once again driving growth in cargo throughput. North America and Southeast Asia experienced the most significant growth among key trading regions.

On a 12-month rolling basis, cargo and airmail throughput increased 5.6% to 5.1 million tonnes year-on-year. Passenger movements grew 4.3% to 74 million.

New passenger terminal construction on course

As this developed, the new passenger terminal of Seletar Airport, Singapore’s secondary civilian airport, has received its temporary occupation permit, and is on track to begin operations by the end of this year.

Operating 24/7, Seletar Airport caters to business and general aviation users such as international aircraft charters, private flights, and maintenance, repair and overhauls.

The new terminal building has a floor area of 10,000 square meters—more than six times larger than the current terminal. Constructed and fitted out at a cost of about SGD80 million (US$59 million), it is designed to handle 700,000 passenger movements a year, in anticipation of the growth in passenger traffic in the coming years.

Managed by Changi Airport Group, the new passenger terminal features an enlarged departure and arrival area, which is designed to handle scheduled commercial flights. The departure area will have four check-in counters, six immigration lanes, two security screening stations, and a gate holdroom spacious enough to comfortably accommodate about 200 passengers.

The new terminal will also have a section for passengers traveling on chartered business flights and private jets, with its own waiting lounge area.

On the airside, three aircraft parking stands are situated next to the terminal to allow passengers quick and efficient access to the aircraft, enabling greater operational efficiency and faster aircraft turnaround time.

When the new terminal becomes operational, Firefly, currently operating 20 daily turboprop flights—to and from Subang, Ipoh and Kuantan—at Changi Airport, will shift its operations to Seletar. This move ensures that resources within Singapore’s entire aviation system are optimized, as aircraft movements at Changi continue to increase, said Changi Airport Group.

Photo: Livewireshock