Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) announced that it has reached an agreement with United Parcel Service (UPS) to develop a new hub facility at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), which will further enhance the airport's cargo capacity and reinforce its status as the world’s leading air cargo hub.

Expected to be completed in 2028, the new express cargo facility is designed for a handling capacity of close to one million tonnes per year and will be built on a land parcel of two hectares with airside access.

Fred Lam, chief executive officer of AAHK said the airport has long-embraced the growing importance of e-commerce in global trade and has been taking forward several strategic new facilities to capture new opportunities and further sharpen our competitiveness in air cargo.

"UPS's new facility is another important addition to our portfolio of cargo facilities which will help HKIA strengthen its position as a leading global air cargo and e-commerce fulfilment hub," he said.

10 million tonnes of additional cargo capacity

AAHK said when the Three-runway System operates in full, HKIA will be able to handle an annual cargo volume of 10 million tonnes.

Several major air cargo projects at HKIA are completing and progressing this year.

While HKIA's existing express cargo handling capacity has expanded, a new premium logistics centre focusing on e-commerce has also just been completed.

AAHK noted that the pilot scheme of the new sea-air intermodal transhipment model linking HKIA and Dongguan has been running smoothly since April 2023, with the permanent facility being developed.