ENG-2016 — Page 279

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Transport

traffic demand. The Airport Authority estimates the airport will handle about 100 million passengers and 9 million tonnes of cargo annually by 2030.

Recognition

The airport has won more than 60 awards as best airport since it opened in 1998. In 2016, the efforts of the airport community continued to be recognised with a range of commendations, including the 'Airport of the Year' from Air Transport World, 'Air Cargo Excellence Award' from Air Cargo World, 'Best Global Airport' from Asia Cargo News, 'Top Asian Efficiency Excellence Award' from Air Transport Research Society, and 'Asia Pacific Airport of the Year - Industry Choice Award' from Payload Asia. The airport was again named to the TTG Hall of Fame in the TTG Travel awards, and was also recognised as having the world's best airport immigration service in the annual Skytrax World Airport Survey.

Air Services

Under the authorisation of the Central People's Government, the HKSAR Government negotiates and concludes bilateral air services agreements with aviation partners to provide the legal framework for scheduled air services between Hong Kong and other places. There are 66 such agreements. Hong Kong's government also reviews traffic rights arrangements with its aviation partners to expand the territory's aviation network and allow more competition in the market. In 2016, the government reviewed and expanded air services arrangements with 11 and seven aviation partners respectively. It also signed new air service agreements with Serbia and Malta, and initialled new agreements with Angola, South Africa and Greece. Of the 60 or so countries along the Belt and Road corridors, Hong Kong has signed air services agreements or international air transit arrangements with 42 countries. The government will continue to discuss with other countries along the Belt and Road and other aviation partners with a view to initiating new air services agreements and expanding existing arrangements.

During the year, the Air Transport Licensing Authority granted variations to the licences of Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, Hong Kong Express Airways and Hong Kong Airlines for the addition of

new routes.

Cathay Pacific Airways operated scheduled services to 77 destinations worldwide, while Hong Kong Dragon Airlines operated scheduled services to 44 destinations in Asia, including 21 Mainland cities. Air Hong Kong operated scheduled all-cargo services to 12 destinations in Asia. Hong Kong Airlines operated scheduled services to 47 destinations worldwide. Hong Kong Express Airways, the only local low-cost carrier, operated scheduled services to 25 destinations in Asia and the US (Guam and Saipan). All the local airlines combined had a fleet of 274 aircraft.

Five non-Hong Kong airlines launched new scheduled passenger services to Hong Kong: Malindo Airways launched services from Kuala Lumpur in February; PT. Citilink Indonesia operated services from Manado from July; Austrian Airlines started services from Vienna in September; and Vietjet Air and T'way Air began services from Ho Chi Minh City and Daegu respectively in December.

As regards all-cargo services, SW Italia operated services between Milan and Hong Kong from March to May, and Bismillah Airlines started services from Dhaka in November.

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