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A total of 853 flight movements were handled at the Hong Kong International Airport on January 27, setting a new daily record, a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Department said today (February 1).
The 853 flight movements represents an increase of about 10% compared with an average of 775 movements a day, breaking the previous single-day record of 827 flight movements on October 28, 2005. There were also 437 flight movements operated through the Hong Kong Flight Information Region on January 27, a significant increase of 23% compared with an average of 355 movements a day.
The increase of flight movements could be attributed to the heavy travel demand during the Chinese New Year holidays. It also registered a robust growth in the air traffic operating to/from Hong Kong and through the Hong Kong Flight Information Region.
In 2005, 263,400 aircraft movements were handled at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and the through area traffic up to 125,700. They represented annual increases of 11% and 7.5% respectively. The air traffic growth in Hong Kong had been consistent since the opening of the HKIA in 1998, and the total flight movements of 389,100 handled in 2005 represented an increase of 65% since then.
"The Civil Aviation Department is very encouraged by this new record which reinforces Hong Kong's status as an international and regional aviation hub. The department will continue to accommodate the increased demand in traffic while maintaining the highest level of safety and efficiency. Our professional Air Traffic Controllers strive to provide a safe and efficient service to the air travelling public," the spokesman said.
Ends/Wednesday, February 1, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:31
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