!
1
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1975
-
BIG GROWTH IN AIR-FREIGHT SERVICE
****
THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THIS FINANCIAL YEAR SHOWED A SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN THE AIR-FREIGHT SERVICE.
ACCORDING TO THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT'S SECOND QUARTERLY REPORT A TOTAL OF 33,859 METRIC TONS OF CARGO WAS CARRIED BY AIR · DURING THE APRIL-JUNE PERIOD AN INCREASE OF 34.19 PER CENT OVER THE LAST QUARTER, OR A RISE OF 31.59 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1974.
THE REPORT NOTED THAT THE CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF FREIGHT CARRIED BY AIR INDICATES THE INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF THE ROLE OF AIR FREIGHT IN HONG KONG'S ECONOMY.
THE QUARTERLY STATISTICS ALSO SHOWED SLIGHT INCREASES IN PASSENGER AND MAIL TRAFFIC. A TOTAL OF 922,256 INCOMING AND OUTGOING PASSENGERS USED THE AIRPORT BETWEEN APRIL AND JUNE THIS YEAR - 29,922 OR 3.35 PER CENT MORE THAN THAT IN THE CORRESPOND ING PERIOD LAST YEAR. DURING THE QUARTER, A TOTAL OF 1,138 METRIC TONS OF MAIL WAS CARRIED BY AIR AN INCREASE OF ALMOST 5.6 PER CENT.
THE REPORT SAID THE GREATER USAGE OF WIDE-BODIED JETS CONTINUED TO BRING A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS WHICH FELL FROM 13,245 FOR APRIL-JUNE 1974 TO 12,367 IN THE SAME PERIOD THIS YEAR Á DECREASE OF ABOUT 6.6 PER CENT.
ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, WORK ON THE NEW AIR CARGO TERMINAL AND THE ASSOCIATED AIRCRAFT PARKING APRON, ROADS AND VEHICLE PARKS, ARE PROGRESSING AS SCHEDULED,
IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE CARGO TERMINAL WILL START LIMITED OPERATIONS NEXT JANUARY BEFORE MOVING TO FULL OPERATION AFTER THE BUILDING IS COMPLETED IN MAY 1976.
AS FOR THE OFFICE BLOCK OF THE AIRCARGO COMPLEX, PILING WORK BEGAN IN MID-JUNE AND IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE FIRST THREE FLOORS OF THE BLOCK WILL BE COMPLETED IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1976.
HOWEVER, THE REPORT SAID HEAVY RAINFALL DURING THE PERIOD HELD UP PROGRESS ON THE TUNNEL ROAD CROSSING THE RUNWAY, THUS THE FULL RUNWAY LENGTH OF 11,130 FEET IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER THIS YEAR.
12