Hong Kong (HKG) Airport & Passenger Statistics 2024

Page last updated: 20 October 2025

Since opening on July 6, 1998 Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has become one of Asia’s key aviation hubs. The airport connects Hong Kong to more than 200 destinations worldwide through about 140 airlines and is a critical bridge between Mainland China and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Overview

How many passengers use Hong Kong International Airport each year?

Hong Kong International Airport handled 53.09 million passengers in 2024, at 71% of its 2018 peak before the COVID-19 pandemic.

HKIA reached its record of 74.67 million passengers in 2018 and was among the top 10 busiest airports worldwide by passenger traffic.
Traffic dipped to 71.54 million in 2019 amid late-year social unrest in Hong Kong.
The pandemic caused an unprecedented collapse, and the airport served only 8.84 million passengers in 2020, then 1.35 million in 2021.

Source: HKIA Finalised Figures PDFs (2014-2024) from Airport Authority Hong Kong

Does Hong Kong International Airport handle any domestic flights?

HKIA operates exclusively international flights, a rarity among major airports because Hong Kong has no domestic commercial aviation routes.

All 420,000 aircraft movements in 2019 were classified as international commercial operations.
Routes to Mainland China, Taiwan and Macao require full border control procedures.
This international-only status makes HKIA’s volumes particularly impressive compared with hubs that rely on domestic traffic.

How many aircraft movements take place at Hong Kong International Airport each year?

HKIA recorded 363,000 aircraft movements in 2024, around 85% of pre-pandemic levels.

Passenger flights comprised 76% of operations, cargo flights 21.5% and general aviation the remainder.
The airport peaked at 428,000 movements in 2018 and 420,000 in 2019.
Operations dropped to 161,000 in 2020, and reached a low of 139,000 in 2022.

Source: HKIA Finalised Figures PDFs (2014-2024) from Airport Authority Hong Kong

Which airlines carry the most passengers at Hong Kong International Airport?

Cathay Pacific Group dominates (54% market share), carrying 28.9 million passengers in 2024.

Cathay Pacific Airways transported 22.8 million passengers in 2024.
HK Express contributed 6.1 million passengers (11.5% market share).
Hong Kong Airlines maintained less than 5% market share during recovery.
Mainland Chinese airlines regained substantial share as Hong Kong-China travel resumed.

Note: Market shares other than Cathay Pacific and HK Express are estimates from compiled schedules and traffic disclosures.

What are the most popular destinations from Hong Kong International Airport?

Taipei tops the list, and the Hong Kong–Taipei sector ranks among the world’s busiest international routes in 2023.

Taipei handled 1.39 million departing passengers (8.8% of total departures) in 2023.
Tokyo ranked second with 1.22 million passengers (7.7% share).
Bangkok maintained 1.19 million passengers (7.5% share).
Shanghai served 940,000 passengers (6% share).
London Heathrow was the top long-haul route with 460,000 passengers.

How much revenue does Hong Kong International Airport generate annually?

Revenue peaked at HK$ 21.99 billion in 2018 before falling to HK$ 5.94 billion in 2021.

2019 generated HK$ 19.47 billion with a balanced mix of aeronautical and non-aeronautical income.
Retail operations contributed 36.7% of revenue before the pandemic (about HK$7.15 billion).
Airside franchises accounted for 14% (about HK$ 2.73 billion).
Revenue rebounded to HK$ 8.22 billion in 2023 as passenger traffic returned.

How much cargo moves through Hong Kong International Airport each year?

HKIA processed 4.94 million tonnes of cargo in 2024, keeping its place among the world’s leading air-freight hubs.

Record volumes reached 5.12 million tonnes in 2018 and 5.03 million tonnes in 2021.
Cargo showed resilience during the pandemic with only 7% decline in 2020.
Exports and transshipments outweigh imports (3.65 million tonnes loaded vs 1.29 million tonnes unloaded).
HKIA ranked #1 globally from 2010-2021 and was ranked 5th in 2023.

What is Hong Kong International Airport’s on-time performance?

HKIA generally posts on-time performance in the mid-70% range during normal conditions.

Cathay Pacific achieved 76.3% on-time arrivals in 2023, ranking 10th in Asia-Pacific.
Performance exceeded 90% during 2020-21 low-traffic periods.
Typhoon season (July-September) presents the biggest weather challenge.
The August 2019 protests caused exceptional disruption with hundreds of flights cancelled over two days.

Peak Travel Months

December recorded the highest monthly volume at Hong Kong International Airport in 2024, at 5.11 million passengers.

Summer months traditionally generate peak traffic with historical highs of 6 million in August 2019.
Chinese New Year creates significant spikes in January or February.
Golden Week (October) and Christmas (December) also drive high volumes.

Major Expansion Projects at Hong Kong International Airport

The Three-Runway System (3RS) represents HKIA’s largest investment at HK$141.5 billion.

All three runways became operational on November 28, 2024.
Capacity increases from 68 to 102 aircraft movements per hour.
Terminal 2 expansion phases throughout 2025 will add 30 million in passenger capacity.
Total capacity will reach 120 million passengers and 10 million tonnes cargo by 2035.

Hong Kong International Airport Sustainability Initiatives

HKIA pledges Net Zero Carbon by 2050 with 55% emissions reduction by 2035 against its 2018 baseline.

Solar panel installations generate several megawatts of renewable power.
An electric ground support equipment fleet represents one of Asia’s largest.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel adoption began with Cathay Pacific and EcoCeres partnerships.
A 2,400-hectare Marine Park protects Chinese white dolphins around expansion areas.

Hong Kong International Airport Safety Record

HKIA maintains a strong safety record with few major incidents since 1998.

August 22, 1999: China Airlines Flight 642 typhoon landing accident resulted in three fatalities.
April 13, 2010: Cathay Pacific Flight 780 emergency landing due to fuel contamination caused 57 injuries but no fatalities.
Advanced windshear detection systems and comprehensive emergency services support safety operations.

How does Hong Kong International Airport rank globally?

HKIA holds its position among the world’s premier airports across several key performance measures, though its standing shifted during the pandemic recovery.

The airport ranked among the top-10 busiest globally by passenger traffic in 2018 with 74.7 million passengers.
Throughout its operational history HKIA has collected over 90 “World’s Best Airport” awards, a testament to its service quality and operational excellence.
In air cargo, its long-held title as the world’s #1 global hub (2010–2021) shifted to a 5th place ranking in 2023 as global logistics patterns shifted.
The airport processes 11% of Hong Kong’s total trade by volume, yet handles 40% by value thanks to its focus on premium time-sensitive goods.
HKIA directly employs approximately 68,000 people across its facilities while supporting over 330,000 jobs throughout Hong Kong’s tourism logistics and related sectors.

Other Airport Statistics

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References

AAHK: Traffic Statistics, Finance & Three-Runway System – 2014 to 2025
CP: Annual Report & Passenger Data – 2024
HKE: Annual Traffic Statistics – 2024
OAG: Route Capacity & Travel Recovery – 2024
IATA: Value of Air Transport to Hong Kong SAR – 2023
Cirium: On-Time Performance Review – 2023
CAD: Airport Fees and Safety Reports – 1999 to 2024
HKIA: Environmental & Net-Zero Initiatives – 2024 to 2025