Hactl @ 50: Scale, Secure, Sustainable

For the 15th time since 2010, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) was named the busiest cargo airport in the world in 2025 by Airports Council International (ACI) World. This sustained dominance has sharpened the Hong Kong government’s resolve to future-proof the hub amid intensifying regional competition.

In September 2025, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region John Lee Ka-chiu, in his 2025 Policy Address, laid out a multi-pronged plan to reinforce the city’s position as a global air freight hub, with a sharp focus on connectivity, multimodal integration and infrastructure expansion.

At the centre of the policy push is the development of the HKIA Dongguan Logistics Park, a cross-boundary facility designed to extend Hong Kong International Airport’s cargo reach deep into Mainland China. The government also plans to accelerate the expansion of Hong Kong’s aviation network and advance the broader “airport city” vision, positioning Hong Kong International Airport as more than just a cargo gateway but a fully integrated logistics and commercial hub.

“The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) will continue to leverage the advantages of the Three-Runway System to increase cargo throughput. In parallel, it is moving ahead with the construction of a logistics park in Dongguan, to help boost the use of Hong Kong air cargo services for transporting goods to and from the Mainland,” he said.

A key pillar of the strategy is the creation of a “rail-sea-land-river” intermodal transport system, aimed at linking inland production centres in Mainland China with Hong Kong’s air cargo facilities. By enabling smoother transfer of goods across multiple transport modes, the initiative is expected to streamline transit times and strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a conduit for international trade flows.

Further boosting competitiveness, the government will expand the air transhipment cargo exemption scheme beyond its current scope to cover additional multimodal transport modes. This move is designed to lower barriers for transhipment cargo and reinforce Hong Kong’s appeal as a preferred consolidation and redistribution hub.

At the middle of all these developments is Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl), the largest independent air cargo terminal operator at HKIA.

“Potentially the biggest game-changer will be robotics. It’s an area which we are rapidly developing in both capability and experience. This will free up precious human resources to deal with situations where humans still excel.”
Michelle Choi, Hactl

Hactl@50
This year, Hactl is celebrating half a century of shaping the way cargo moves through the world’s busiest air cargo hub. Hactl began operations in 1976 with a mission: to bring order and efficiency to cargo handling at Hong Kong’s old Kai Tak Airport, where space was tight. Over the following two decades, the company built and managed two terminals at Kai Tak, supporting Hong Kong’s rapid emergence as a global air cargo hub. By the time the airport closed in 1997, Hactl’s annual throughput had already reached 1.7 million tonnes.

The next chapter opened in 1998, when Hactl moved into SuperTerminal 1 at the new Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) in Chek Lap Kok. For Michelle Choi, Acting Chief Executive of Hactl, this is one milestone that towers above the rest. “The opening of that terminal has demonstrated that it is possible to operate at scale and deliver a world-class facility. This is our crowning glory because it shows how we have taken all the lessons learned during our tenure at the old Kai Tak Airport onto the next level,” she said.

Designed by renowned architect Norman Foster, the facility represented a $1 billion investment and was engineered to handle 3.5 million tonnes of cargo per year. With its advanced automation and efficiency standards, SuperTerminal 1 quickly set new benchmarks for the industry, and more than two decades later, it remains the centrepiece of Hactl’s operations.

“SuperTerminal 1 has shown how you can future-proof a building with great planning and subject knowledge as we have, and will continue to introduce unprecedented levels of automation within this facility,” Choi added.

From its beginnings as the sole operator at Kai Tak, Hactl has evolved alongside Hong Kong’s rise as a global cargo hub. Choi reflects on that transformation: “With the move to the new SuperTerminal 1 in 1998 at the new Chek Lap Kok airport, the airport became a multiple-franchise operation. Hactl was one of those parties and has evolved into a fully competitive participant in line with the other players. And of course, despite being subject to all the usual market pressures, we remain the largest handler in Hong Kong.”

From paper to platforms
The journey from manual processes to digital sophistication has been equally defining. “50 years ago, when Hactl was born, we operated in an entirely manual and paper model. Today, we are a largely digital and highly automated company. We ourselves have driven that process throughout history, and many innovations now commonplace within this industry first saw the light of day at Hactl.”

Among those innovations: COSAC-Plus, a centralised digital community for airlines, forwarders, and customs; automated container and box storage systems; AI and robotics in handling; the Integrated Hactl Control Centre (iHCC) for real-time oversight; and even a 5G private network powering next-generation operations. Other changes and innovations would include the introduction of app-based customer tools for facilities, such as pre-booking door slots and vetting of documentation.

Setting the global benchmark
Hactl’s commitment to specialised cargo quality standards has evolved steadily over the past decade. In 2017, it became Hong Kong’s first cargo terminal to achieve IATA CEIV Pharma certification, setting the benchmark for temperature-controlled pharmaceutical handling. This was followed in 2019, when Hactl became one of the first two handlers globally to secure the newly introduced IATA CEIV Fresh accreditation for perishables, supported by process innovations such as a dedicated “Fresh Lane” to speed up handling of time-sensitive cargo.

In 2020, the company added CEIV Live Animals certification, becoming one of the first operators worldwide to achieve three CEIV standards, alongside significant upgrades to its animal handling facilities, training and operating procedures. The portfolio was completed in October 2022, when Hactl obtained IATA CEIV Lithium Batteries certification, making it the first cargo handling company globally to hold all four CEIV accreditations, Pharma, Fresh, Live Animals and Li-batt, while also strengthening dangerous goods training, infrastructure and compliance processes to address the growing risks associated with battery shipments.

Security credentials are equally formidable. Hactl became the first air cargo terminal in the world to achieve the Cargo Terminal Best Security Practices compliance certification from Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) in 2005. In July 2023, Hactl introduced AI-enabled security robots equipped with thermal imaging, LiDAR and high-resolution cameras to conduct autonomous patrols and enhance surveillance across SuperTerminal 1.

Building on this, the company rolled out its intelligent cargo thermal detection system, with Phase 1 launched in December 2023 and Phase 2 completed in May 2025, enabling real-time temperature screening of cargo both at acceptance and prior to aircraft loading, creating a “double layer” of protection against risks such as lithium battery fires. Most recently, in December 2025, Hactl achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification for its COSAC-Plus cargo management system and IT infrastructure, reinforcing cybersecurity, data integrity and resilience against evolving digital threats.

Sustainability, too, is deeply embedded in Hactl’s operating philosophy. The company formalised this approach with its Green Terminal Programme in 2018, positioning SuperTerminal 1 as a benchmark for environmentally responsible cargo handling. It strengthened this commitment in 2022 by pledging alignment with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and, in November 2023, secured formal validation of its targets, committing to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50.4 percent by 2030 from a 2018 baseline, with Scope 3 emissions reductions aligned to the same trajectory.

Beyond targets, Hactl has translated ambition into operational change. It has progressively electrified ground support equipment, adopted renewable energy, and introduced energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems, alongside digitalisation initiatives to eliminate paper and reduce unnecessary cargo movements. These efforts are complemented by circular economy initiatives such as terminal-wide waste reduction programmes involving tenants and upcycling projects, as well as pilot use of renewable diesel and broader efforts to divert waste from landfill.

Holding ground in a tightening race
Looking ahead, competition from regional hubs is sharpening. Yet Choi insists Hong Kong and Hactl remain uniquely positioned. “Hactl and Hong Kong together provide a unique and attractive proposition to airlines, including, but not limited to, its ideal geographic location, a highly trained bilingual workforce, plentiful slot capacity, and a highly developed handling facility capable of handling every known aircraft type at scale.”

She emphasises the importance of supportive government policies, airport authority commitment, and industry collaboration to sustain growth and innovation. As Hactl looks toward its 60th anniversary, Choi sees robotics as the next frontier. “Potentially the biggest game-changer will be robotics. It’s an area which we are rapidly developing in both capability and experience. This will free up precious human resources to deal with situations where humans still excel.”

Building leaders, not just systems
Hactl’s investment in people is as deliberate as its investment in infrastructure, with the Elite Management Trainee (EMT) programme emerging as a cornerstone of its talent strategy. Launched in 2023, the highly selective initiative takes in only a handful of candidates from hundreds of applicants and puts them through a rigorous three-year journey of cross-functional rotations, hands-on operational exposure, and close mentorship by senior leadership.

Designed to fast-track participants into managerial roles, the programme blends technical training with real-world decision-making, while encouraging trainees to engage with industry platforms and innovation projects. Beyond skill-building, it reflects a deeper philosophy: building a pipeline of leaders who understand the business end-to-end, embody a culture of collaboration, and can steer Hactl through the next phase of transformation.

But this is only one layer. In 2022, Hactl became the first cargo terminal to have its in-house training courses formally accredited under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework, standardising competencies across areas such as dangerous goods, temperature-controlled cargo and service excellence. Also in 2022, Hactl became the first cargo terminal operator in Hong Kong to achieve the IATA Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) Centre Certification, marking a shift from traditional classroom instruction to a skills-based, task-oriented training model that is now mandatory for dangerous goods handling.

But the vision extends beyond technology. Sustainability, transparency, and connectivity will define the next decade. “Other than that, you can expect more of the same from Hactl with a focus on innovation and even more on sustainability. There will also be more focus on both connectivity and transparency, which every modern supply chain increasingly demands,” Choi added. 

As Hactl looks ahead to its 60th anniversary, its focus on robotics, sustainability, and transparency promises to keep Hong Kong at the forefront of global air cargo.

The article was originally published in the May 2026 issue of The STAT Trade Times.