Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) retained its title as the world's busiest cargo airport in 2024, according to data released by the Airports Council International (ACI) World.
The latest report showed HKIA maintaining the top spot for air cargo volumes globally from 2023. The airport has been the consistent top cargo hub for 13 years, although it dropped to second in 2020 due to the wide-ranging impacts of COVID-19.
The global trade representative of the world's airport authorities said that HKIA remained the world's busiest air cargo hub in 2024, recording 4.94 million metric tonnes of cargo, up 14.1% from the 4.33 million metric tonnes recorded in 2023.
This also tops the 4.2 million metric tonnes of cargo that the airport handled in 2022.
Last year's air freight volume is already 2.7% higher compared to pre-pandemic levels seen at HKIA.
E-commerce, shipping disruptions boost air cargo volumes
"Air cargo volumes are estimated to have increased by 8.4% year-over-year (up 3.9% versus 2019), to over 124 million metric tonnes in 2024," ACI World said in its latest report.
"The increase in cargo is attributed mainly to strong e-commerce demand, maritime shipping disruptions, and declines in jet fuel prices," it added.
[Source: ACI World]
For 2024, Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) surpassed Memphis International Airport (MEM) — the home of the FedEx Express global hub — becoming the second busiest cargo airport, handling 3.78 million metric tonnes of cargo, an increase of 9.8% year over year.
MEM slipped to third place, handling 3.75 million metric tonnes of cargo, marking a 3.3% decrease from the previous year. It is the only airport in ACI World's top 10 to see a decline in 2024 and has not recovered to pre-COVID levels.
ACI World said Anchorage Airport (ANC), with 3.69 million metric tonnes of cargo handled in 2024, was the fourth busiest freight hub globally, maintaining its ranking from the previous year and recording a 9.4% year-on-year increase. Its cargo performance in 2024 also surpassed its pre-COVID cargo level by 34.7%.
Meanwhile, Louisville International Airport — the primary hub of UPS Airlines — ranked fifth for 2024, edging Incheon International Airport (ICN) with 3.15 million metric tonnes of cargo handled, up 15.5% compared to the preceding year. Its cargo performance in 2024 is also up 13% from its pre-pandemic volumes.
Rounding the top 10 busiest air cargo airports list are INC (2.95 million metric tonnes), Miami International Airport (2.75 million metric tonnes), Doha International Airport (2.62 million metric tonnes), Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (2.37 million metric tonnes), and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (2.27 million metric tonnes).
"Air cargo volumes in the top 10 airports – representing close to 26% (32.3 million metric tonnes) of the global volumes in 2024 – gained 9.3% in 2024 year-over-year or a gain of 9.5% vis-à-vis their 2019 results (29.5 million tonnes in 2019)," ACI World said.
It added that air cargo traffic is more concentrated amongst the main airports.
[Source: ACI World]
Hong Kong cargo community welcomes news
HKIA welcomed being named the top cargo hub in its 2024 ranking. "The airport has been named the busiest cargo airport in the world for the 14th time since 2010," it said, adding that the airport handled 4.9 million tonnes of cargo during the year.
"We are proud to be consistently named the world’s busiest cargo airport over the years. This is a great demonstration of our commitment to enhancing our cargo services by striving for innovation and seizing opportunities. Alongside the commissioning of the Three-runway System, we are also seeing new cargo handling facilities established at the airport," said Vivian Cheung, chief executive officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong.
"We will continue to work with the air cargo community to leverage the unique advantages at HKIA, strengthen our resilience amid the economic uncertainties and challenges, and reinforce HKIA as the world’s leading aviation hub," she added.
Hong Kong's flag carrier, Cathay Pacific, also welcomed the news that HKIA had been named the world's busiest cargo airport for the 14th time since 2010. Cathay Director Cargo Tom Owen said that this achievement is a testament to the cooperation, innovation, and world-leading facilities that HKIA offers.
"As the largest cargo operator at HKIA, we are proud to be part of this success story," Owen said. "We won’t rest on our laurels, however, and our investments into our fleet, network, facilities, and digital capabilities reflect not only our commitment to, but also our confidence in the long-term future of the Hong Kong international aviation and logistics hub."
"We look forward to continuing to work together with the entire air cargo community, including the Transport and Logistics Bureau, Civil Aviation Department, Airport Authority Hong Kong, and other important stakeholders, to innovate and ensure HKIA maintains its position as the world's best and busiest air cargo hub," he added.
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) – Hong Kong's largest independent handler — also lauded the news, and noted that HKIA's volumes were over 30% ahead of the second-placed airport.
"We are delighted to learn that Hong Kong once again led the industry in 2024. We are also proud to have played a significant part in this achievement," said Wilson Kwong, chief executive at Hactl. "This result is testament to the leadership and commitment of the HKSAR Government and our visionary, highly supportive Airport Authority, which facilitates cargo activity and drives many positive initiatives, while also maintaining the strong focus on sustainability that is so dear to our hearts. "
"Add that to the compelling overall proposition of HKIA, and the recent full operation of our Three-runway System, and we are optimistic that we can work together to retain this top slot for many more years to come," Kwong added.
