Hong Kong International Airport's passenger traffic rose 22.4 percent year-on-year to over 4 million in September as authorities look to the Middle East and Southeast Asia to drive further growth for the city's aviation industry.

The HKIA handled 4.06 million passengers and 29,595 flight movements last month, marking year-on-year increases of 22.4 percent and 22.3 percent, respectively, the Airport Authority Hong Kong said Tuesday.   

Cargo throughput increased to 414,000 tonnes, up 10.2 percent compared to September last year, it added.

“Hong Kong's aviation industry has experienced a strong recovery in terms of passenger volume and cargo-handling volume after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Acting Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun said at a ceremony hosted by Cathay Pacific Airways to celebrate its orders for new Airbus aircraft.

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Wong said airlines based in Hong Kong were working hard to expand their businesses with different partners, adding that the Middle East and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) markets will serve as the growth engines for the city's aviation industry.

With the three-runway system expected to begin operations in November, Wong said its completion will be timely and important.

“The three-runway system will facilitate the airport’s passenger volume and cargo-handling capacity to 120 million passengers and 10 million tons of cargo, respectively,” he added.

According to the AAHK, all passenger segments, including Hong Kong residents and visitors as well as transfer or transit passengers, experienced significant growth in September.

Traffic to and from Southeast Asia and the Chinese mainland recorded the most substantial increases during the month.

Cargo throughput also saw double-digit year-on-year growth, mainly due to the 13.0 percent growth in both transshipments and exports. Among key trading regions, cargo traffic to and from Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East increased most significantly in September.

On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volume rose by a significant 63.5 percent year-on-year to 50.8 million while flight movements increased by 49.9 percent to 351,015. Cargo throughput grew by 15.9 percent to 4.82 million tonnes.

Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s flagship carrier, has committed more than HK$100 billion ($12.8 billion) worth of investment over the seven years after the three-runway system begins operations in Hong Kong.

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The bulk of the capital investment will be in its fleet, with the airline having committed to buying up to 150 new-generation Airbus aircraft.

“This is a testimony to our confidence in Hong Kong and the future of Hong Kong as an international aviation hub,” Cathay Pacific Airways Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam Siu-por said at the ceremony on Tuesday.

From 2026, the carrier will start taking delivery of narrow body passenger aircraft such as the A321neo and the A320neo for both its Cathay Pacific fleet and its Hong Kong Express fleet. Starting in 2027, the company will also take delivery of Airbus A350F freighter aircraft to expand its cargo fleet; and from 2028, it will take delivery of the new-generation A350 aircraft.

“Apart from fleet investment, our investment also includes product investment such as the new ARIA suite, a new premium economy cabin and the new first-class flagship product. Next year, the airline will launch new lounges in Beijing and New York airports. By 2026, the lounges in Hong Kong airport will finish refurbishment,” Lam added.

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The airline’s CEO also said that the Cathay Group will continue to expand its route network. “We project by 2025, we will hit 100 passenger destinations between Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Express.” 

Cathay Pacific’s share price was up 0.63 percent to close at HK$7.97 per share on Tuesday.

“As a world-class airline, (Cathay Pacific’s) endorsement of our products is extremely important to our company. Our two companies share a lot of values: the value of integrity, the value of constant quest for quality and technical excellence, and the value of unwavering dedication to customers,” said Christian Scherer, chief executive officer of Airbus’ commercial aircraft business.