Hong Kong Air Cargo

As early as 2007, Hong Kong Airlines established its cargo department, introduced three second-hand Boeing 737 freighters from Hainan Airlines, and provided freight services between Hong Kong and many Asian cities by using the capacity provided by the newly added freighters and the belly compartments of their passenger aircraft. A330-200F freighter was later introduced to further enhance its cargo capacity and that Hong Kong Air Cargo became the launch customer of A330-200F in Asia. With the rapid development of Hong Kong’s air transportation and logistics industry, the advantage of Hong Kong International Airport becoming the world’s largest airport in terms of air cargo throughput, and the full operation of the three-runway system predicts the growth of passenger and cargo volumes and potential capacity, the need of having a separate cargo airlines from Hong Kong Airlines started to emerge. In view of this, Hong Kong Airlines decided to spin off its cargo business, and with the acquisition of an independent Civil Aviation Department (Hong Kong)’s Air Operator's Certificate and Air Transport Licensing Authority’s air transport license, it officially split off Hong Kong Air Cargo in 2017 to handle cargo operations.[1]

After its establishment, Hong Kong Air Cargo undertook the all-cargo service originally operated by the Hong Kong Airlines Cargo, and later became the general cargo agent of Hong Kong Airlines and Hong Kong Express(its general sales agent status ended after Cathay Pacific Airways completed the acquisition of Hong Kong Express) At present, its route network covers a total of 12 cities in Asia and Europe.

Hong Kong Cargo Airlines once stated that within five years of its establishment, it will successively introduce Boeing 747 or Boeing 777 wide-body long-distance freighters, by increasing the fleet size to double digit. it will continue to open more Asian, European and American long-distance freighter routes. But due to market fluctuations, Hong Kong Air Cargo suspended its development plan.

Since 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hong Kong Air Cargo has recorded a year-round increase in cargo volume by approximately 8% compared to 2019 due to the reduction in passenger aircraft capacity. Hong Kong Air Cargo announced at the end of 2020 that it has formally applied to the Air Transport Licensing Authority for a total of nine new routes to meet future development needs. [2]