DIRECTOR general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Willie Walsh, says Hong Kong has fully regained its status as an international aviation hub.
Speaking to Hong Kong's SCMP, Mr Walsh said that the failure of some foreign airlines to restore capacity to pre-pandemic levels in the city is due to supply chain and airspace issues rather than 'a lack of attractiveness as a destination or geopolitics reasons'.
He said Hong Kong would recover its world-class aviation hub status by the end of this year.
'And you know Cathay Pacific Airways will be at 100 per cent of 2019 capacity at the end of this year or from January next year.'
Mr Walsh explained why some foreign airlines had not returned or built up capacity they had is principally an aircraft and airspace issue. 'It's because of the lack of availability of widebody aircraft because of the additional maintenance time and checks that the existing aircraft require, much more so than anything to do with the market.'
Vivian Cheung Kar-fay, acting CEO of the Airport Authority added: 'Russian airspace restrictions have continued to be a significant issue as the city's new long-haul routes could not go over that country's airspace. This is also causing several major US and European airlines to defer their return until this situation normalizes.'
Several new (to HKG) airlines are now routing to HKG with some taking advantage of the airport's new subsidy scheme. Without an early return of the several long-haul routes effected by the Russian airspace HKIA is targeting at least a hundred airlines by end 2025.
Commenting on Donald Trump's return to the White House, Mr Walsh said the Trump administration would cause significant uncertainty to the global aviation industry, with tariffs and trade wars likely to dampen demand for air cargo and potentially affect business travel.
iata also forecast that the global airline industry would make a net profit of US$36.6 billion next year, up from the expected net profit of US$31.5 billion this year.
SeaNews Turkey
Speaking to Hong Kong's SCMP, Mr Walsh said that the failure of some foreign airlines to restore capacity to pre-pandemic levels in the city is due to supply chain and airspace issues rather than 'a lack of attractiveness as a destination or geopolitics reasons'.
He said Hong Kong would recover its world-class aviation hub status by the end of this year.
'And you know Cathay Pacific Airways will be at 100 per cent of 2019 capacity at the end of this year or from January next year.'
Mr Walsh explained why some foreign airlines had not returned or built up capacity they had is principally an aircraft and airspace issue. 'It's because of the lack of availability of widebody aircraft because of the additional maintenance time and checks that the existing aircraft require, much more so than anything to do with the market.'
Vivian Cheung Kar-fay, acting CEO of the Airport Authority added: 'Russian airspace restrictions have continued to be a significant issue as the city's new long-haul routes could not go over that country's airspace. This is also causing several major US and European airlines to defer their return until this situation normalizes.'
Several new (to HKG) airlines are now routing to HKG with some taking advantage of the airport's new subsidy scheme. Without an early return of the several long-haul routes effected by the Russian airspace HKIA is targeting at least a hundred airlines by end 2025.
Commenting on Donald Trump's return to the White House, Mr Walsh said the Trump administration would cause significant uncertainty to the global aviation industry, with tariffs and trade wars likely to dampen demand for air cargo and potentially affect business travel.
iata also forecast that the global airline industry would make a net profit of US$36.6 billion next year, up from the expected net profit of US$31.5 billion this year.
SeaNews Turkey
