Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), the world's busiest cargo hub, continued its expansion in April, with air freight volumes increasing for the seventh consecutive month.

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) released the air traffic figures in Hong Kong for April, where it reported a 13.9% increase in cargo throughput for the month to 394,000 tonnes.

This is, however, lower than the 428,000 tonnes recorded in March.

"HKIA has continued to record double-digit year-on-year growth in cargo volume each month this year," AAHK said in a statement.

It added that exports again contributed most to this increase, growing by 24.7% compared to the same month last year.

Among key trading regions, cargo traffic to and from North America, Europe and Taiwan recorded the largest increases during the month.

For the first four months of the year, the airport handled more than 1.5 million tonnes, up 17.7% from the previous year.

Meanwhile, flight movements registered a year-on-year increase of 55.3% to 115,285 during the January to April period.

On a 12-month rolling basis, AAHK said cargo throughput was up 11% to 4.6 million tonnes, while flight movements increased 83.9% to 317,150.

During the period, AAHK said Hong Kong Airlines launched a new direct flight service connecting HKIA and Vientiane Wattay International Airport, Laos in April, operating a pair of flights each week.

"We are glad that one of our home-based carriers has launched a new direct flight service between Hong Kong and Vientiane, the first to Laos after the pandemic. Strategically located at the centre of Southeast Asia, Laos is an important member of the Belt and Road Initiative," said Vivian Cheung, chief operating officer of AAHK.

"Both business travellers and tourists are expected to benefit from this further extension of HKIA's air network to Laos," she added.