Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) said its cargo throughput "remained resilient" during the fiscal year 2020-2021 despite persisting passenger volume constraints due to travel restrictions and quarantine measures implemented worldwide.

In a statement, the Airport Authority (AA) said HKIA handled 4.6 million tonnes during the year ended March 31, posting a slight year-on-year decline of 2%.

It said during the fiscal year, HKIA recorded a 24% surge in freighter movement, mitigating the reduced passenger flight belly space and helping HKIA to retain its position as the world’s busiest international cargo airport.

Passenger volume and flight movement, meanwhile, dropped 98.6% and 66.2% to 800,000 and 127, 760 respectively due to ongoing impacts of Covid-19 on travel. 

The HK Airport Authority noted that during the year, safety and hygiene remained the foremost priority in airport operation. It added that anti-pandemic measures were rigorously reviewed and enhanced according to the fast changing situation to safeguard passengers and staff at HKIA.

"HKIA’s high health and safety standards were recognised in the Airport Health Accreditation programme of Airports Council International. HKIA was among the first Asia-Pacific airports to receive this designation," it added.

Despite the continuing impact of the pandemic, the Hong Kong gateway said its planned Three-runway System (3RS) remains underway — with the land reclamation for the 3RS "substantially complete during the year," with follow-on works including pavement of the third runway progressing as planned. 

The AA is confident that the third runway will be operational in 2022 and completing the 3RS project by 2024, on time and within budget, it added.