Air cargo throughput at Hong Kong International Airport in 2015 was 0.1% higher than in 2014, according to statistics released by the airport.

HKIA handled a total of 4.38 million tonnes of air freight for the year. In the month of December, the airport handled 391,000 tonnes, a 1.0% increase year-on-year. The airport authority said that this was driven by exports and said European and Australasian traffic experienced the most growth.

Cargo flight movements, however, fell 1.4% year-on-year to 53,660.

In 2015, six new airlines began operations in Hong Kong: Etihad Airways, Jetstar Japan, Jetstar Pacific, Myanmar National Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines and Sky Lease Cargo.

“We are pleased to see HKIA achieving another record-breaking year,” said Fred Lam, CEO of Airport Authority Hong Kong. “The strong performance of HKIA further strengthens its leading position as an international and regional aviation hub. This is also a result of the concerted effort of over 73,000 staff of the airport community. Their dedication has contributed to the smooth operation of the airport throughout the year.”