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Hong Kong has signed bilateral aviation arrangements with over 80 percent of European Union member states, according to Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan.
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Responding to inquiries, Chan revealed that the Airport Authority Hong Kong's (AAHK) Air Network Development Programme has attracted 40 airlines to launch 95 new routes spanning five continents as of September, with 15 existing routes seeing increased frequency.
Hong Kong has already signed bilateral aviation arrangements with over 80 percent of European Union member states. In recent years, the city has updated or expanded bilateral arrangements with countries such as Luxembourg and Malta, as well as established a new bilateral aviation agreement with Poland.
The authorities are currently seeking to establish closer trade ties with regions such as Brazil, Peru, and Kazakhstan, with local airline Cathay Pacific scheduled to launch Hong Kong’s first-ever direct flight service to Kazakhstan in January next year.
Meanwhile, Chan noted that the government aims to tap into the commercial potential of South America, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, while deepening ties with traditional markets.
She emphasized that the government prioritizes factors beyond traffic volume and immediate economic benefits when selecting aviation partners, focusing on strategic value and future business opportunities.
Furthermore, since the launch of the Programme in 2024, Etihad Airways and Delta Air Lines have resumed their flights between Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi, and Los Angeles, respectively.
The airport has also recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Uzbekistan’s Fly Khiva Group to establish a comprehensive passenger and cargo aviation network.
Regarding the cargo network, the city’s air freight volume reached 3.78 million tonnes in the first three quarters of this year, representing a 3.3 percent year-on-year increase. The annual cargo throughput has reached 5.07 million tonnes, representing a 2.7 percent year-on-year increase.
The Freighter Network Development Programme implemented in March has also attracted 14 airlines, adding 80 extra weekly cargo flights to the airport's network.
