Cathay Welcomes the Government's Policy Address Initiatives to Further Strengthen Hong Kong's International Aviation Hub Status

The city's home airline looks forward to the continued growth and development of the hub

Cathay welcomes the Hong Kong SAR Government's ongoing initiatives to enhance the competitiveness of the Hong Kong international aviation hub as expressed in the Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address today.

Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam said: "The Hong Kong international aviation hub plays a key role in the development of both Hong Kong and the country through its ability to connect Hong Kong, the rest of the Greater Bay Area, and the Chinese Mainland with the world. As Hong Kong's home airline, we look forward to the completion of the Three-Runway System at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and the 'Airport City' projects that will boost both the capacity and the competitiveness of our home hub.

"We welcome the Government's continued focus on developing intermodal connectivity between Hong Kong and the rest of the GBA. The completion of the autonomous transportation system along the Airport City Link, enhancements to the intermodal passenger service in tandem with Zhuhai Airport, as well as the streamlining of passenger security screening at HKIA are all welcome developments that will enhance the overall customer experience for passengers flying via HKIA.

"The Government's enhancement in promoting the development of the tourism industry is another encouraging sign in attracting more visitors to Hong Kong. We are proud to support initiatives that put Hong Kong on the world stage, and we look forward to welcoming more visitors to discover the beauty of our home city.

"We are very encouraged by the ongoing infrastructure progress that will further enhance HKIA's cargo-handling capabilities. Cathay was proud to be the first to have cargo shipments accepted at the HKIA Logistics Park in Dongguan and transported to HKIA by ship for outbound airfreight earlier this year. We look forward to the completion of the first-phase construction of a permanent facility by 2025, which will provide a significant boost to the cargo-handling capacity of the logistics park.

"We enthusiastically support the Government's intention to formulate an action plan to drive the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Hong Kong. SAF will be one of the most important levers for achieving net-zero carbon emissions within the aviation industry. We look forward to further positive policies in the future and we will continue to work with the Government to promote the use of SAF.

"We also appreciate the Government's continued efforts to address labour challenges in the market, including a continued focus on nurturing local talent and attracting talent from the Chinese Mainland.

"For more than seven decades, Cathay has proudly contributed to the development and growth of the Hong Kong international aviation hub. We remain resolutely confident of its long-term success and we look forward to playing our part in its continued successes over the coming years.