Hactl sets new records in cargo handling in 2016

Jan 19, 2017: Cargo handler Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals (Hactl) has enjoyed a strong finish to 2016, beating 2015 tonnages by 1.7 percent and setting new terminal and ramp handling records.

It has handled 1,653,938 tonnage of cargo in 2016, up 1.7 percent on 2015.

Strongest performance was on transshipments, which were up a massive 29.6 percent on 2015. Mail, courier and other express traffic meanwhile grew 8.4 percent, and exports showed 2.1 percent growth.

Only imports declined, down 8.3 percent - although the negative trend of January-September was reversed in the last quarter, with growth in every month.

Hactl broke its record for weekly cargo handling through SuperTerminal 1 in three consecutive weeks of November, culminating in a new best of 41,926 tonnes in the week November 28 – December 4.

There was no let-up in the growth of Hactl’s ramp handling business, which set three new all-time records for freighter handling in the final few weeks of 2016. On November 23, Hactl handled 101 freighters in a single day; this broke its previous best of 98 freighters, set only 19 days earlier.

In the week of 28 November – 4 December, Hactl handled 628 freighters, surpassing its previous week’s record of 609 aircraft.

Freighters handled in the month of November 2016 totalled 2,579 – beating the previous November’s record of 2,242 by over 15 percent.

Mark Whitehead, chief executive, Hactl, says, “From a disapppointing start, 2016 shaped up to be a very satisfactory year for Hactl and its airline customers. The best results showed in the second half, and are hopefully indicative of a more settled picture for global air cargo that will continue into 2017.

“Particularly gratifying is the continuing growth of our ramp handling business.”