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Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) continued its steady cargo recovery trajectory in April 2026, handling 423,000 tonnes of cargo, a 4.9 percent increase compared to the same month last year. The growth reinforces HKIA’s position as one of the world’s leading air cargo gateways and highlights the resilience of Asia-Pacific supply chains despite ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainties.
According to figures released by Airport Authority Hong Kong, the rise in cargo throughput was largely driven by strong transshipment activity, which surged 20.2 percent year on year during the month. Import cargo volumes also posted healthy growth of 6.5 percent, while the decline in exports narrowed significantly to just 0.3 percent, signalling improving global trade demand.
Cargo flight movements at HKIA increased 4.3 percent to 6,605 flights in April, underlining continued demand for air freight services across regional and long-haul markets. Europe and Southeast Asia emerged as key growth drivers, offsetting weaker demand from North America and the Middle East, where ongoing geopolitical tensions continue to impact trade and logistics flows.
For the first four months of 2026, HKIA processed 1.63 million tonnes of cargo, representing year-on-year growth of 3.7 percent. Total flight movements during the same period rose 5.1 percent to 135,090. On a rolling 12-month basis, the airport handled 5.12 million tonnes of cargo, up 2.9 percent compared with the previous year.
Industry analysts note that Hong Kong’s cargo sector continues to benefit from robust cross-border e-commerce flows, high-value electronics shipments, and expanding transshipment operations connecting mainland China with global markets. The airport’s extensive connectivity and cargo handling infrastructure remain central to its competitive advantage in the global logistics landscape.
HKIA’s performance also aligns with broader momentum across Hong Kong’s aviation sector. The airport retained its title as the world’s busiest cargo airport in 2025, marking the 15th time it has achieved the distinction since 2010. Airport Authority Hong Kong has continued investing in cargo capacity expansion, digitalisation initiatives, and specialised handling capabilities for pharmaceuticals, perishables, and e-commerce shipments.
Meanwhile, Cathay Cargo also reported improved freight volumes in April, reflecting sustained demand on routes connecting Asia with the Americas and Europe. The airline cited growth in semiconductor, technology, and pharmaceutical shipments as important contributors to cargo performance.
Despite ongoing concerns around geopolitical instability and shifting trade patterns, HKIA’s latest cargo figures indicate that the airport remains a critical node in global supply chains. As international trade volumes gradually stabilise and e-commerce continues to drive air freight demand, Hong Kong appears well positioned to maintain its leadership role in the global air cargo industry.
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Lufthansa Cargo has received renewed certification from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) under the CEIV Pharma standard, expanding the scope of validation to include a broader review of its global pharmaceutical logistics operations. The certification, valid through April 2029, covers both Lufthansa Cargo’s airline processes and its wider corporate quality management framework for handling temperature-sensitive healthcare shipments. The latest audit also assessed the carrier’s centralized oversight and operational consistency across parts of its international network. The CEIV Pharma programme is designed to verify compliance with industry standards for transporting pharmaceutical and life science products by air. Lufthansa Cargo said the updated certification includes its pharma hubs in Frankfurt, Munich and Chicago, along with stations in Atlanta, Washington D.C., Mexico City and New York. Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo, said the certification demonstrated how “standardized processes, centralized governance and local execution go hand in hand across the entire network.” Oliver von Götz, Vice President Global Fulfillment Management at Lufthansa Cargo, said the company had continued investing in pharmaceutical logistics capabilities through process improvements, infrastructure upgrades and employee training. Lufthansa Cargo first obtained CEIV Pharma certification in 2016 and has maintained the accreditation for ten consecutive years. The company currently operates more than 350 cargo stations worldwide, including around 230 stations offering passive temperature support and approximately 120 equipped for active temperature-controlled handling. The certification comes as pharmaceutical airfreight continues to grow in importance for global carriers, driven by demand for secure and temperature-controlled transportation of vaccines, biologics and other sensitive healthcare products. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
Swissport International has signed a binding agreement to acquire Swiftair Maroc, marking its formal entry into Morocco’s growing air cargo market and strengthening its strategic presence across Africa. The acquisition gives Swissport access to operations at Mohammed V International Airport, Morocco’s primary air freight gateway, which handles nearly 95 percent of the country’s total air cargo volumes. The move aligns with Swissport’s broader strategy to expand its global cargo handling business in high-growth logistics markets. Swiftair Maroc operates a 3,700-square-metre airside cargo warehouse equipped with temperature-controlled infrastructure, including dedicated cold rooms for pharmaceutical shipments and perishable goods. The facility is expected to strengthen Swissport’s capabilities in handling specialised cargo segments such as healthcare logistics, fresh produce, and time-sensitive exports. Warwick Brady, President and CEO of Swissport International, described Morocco as a fast-growing logistics and trade hub connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas. He noted that the acquisition supports the company’s long-term objective of accelerating growth in its global cargo operations while enhancing service capabilities for international customers. Industry observers view the acquisition as strategically timed, given Morocco’s rising importance in global supply chains. The country has seen steady growth in export-driven industries such as automotive manufacturing, aerospace, agriculture, and textiles. Casablanca, in particular, has emerged as a critical logistics gateway for North and West Africa, supported by increasing trade flows and investment in airport infrastructure. The deal also strengthens Swissport’s existing footprint in Morocco. Through its local operations, the company already provides ground handling services at 16 airports across the country, along with executive aviation services in Casablanca, Marrakesh, and Tangier. Swissport also operates airport lounges under its Aspire brand at multiple Moroccan airports. For Swiftair, the transaction is part of a broader corporate strategy to streamline operations and focus on core business activities. Salvador Moreno, Founder and CEO of Swiftair, said the company was confident Swissport would support the next phase of growth for Swiftair Maroc while maintaining strong collaboration between the two businesses. The acquisition reflects a wider trend of global aviation and logistics companies investing in specialised cargo infrastructure and emerging regional hubs to meet growing demand for efficient, temperature-sensitive, and cross-border supply chain solutions. As air cargo volumes continue to evolve globally, Morocco’s strategic location and expanding export economy are likely to attract further international logistics investment in the coming years. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 https://cargoconnect.co.in/ 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
Cargo handler Frankfurt Cargo Services (FCS) has expanded its pharma offering at the German hub with the opening of a new facility. The newly certified Pharma Center has been constructed in almost two years and has increased the company’s space used for handling temperature-controlled goods by fourfold, reaching 3,300 square meters. The center unites all pharma handling activities performed by the handler and allows receiving, dispatching, storing, disassembling, and assembling of whole pallets. “Besides handling loose freight in temperature-controlled storage areas, it is also possible to assemble whole pallets in a temperature-controlled manner and to store active loading units – that is, containers – with corresponding power supply,” the company stated. According to FCS, the center includes two segments of pharmaceutical handling: Controlled Room Temperature Storage, ranging from 15 to 25 degrees Celsius, and Controlled Cool Storage, ranging from 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. “We are currently witnessing an increasing demand for pharmaceutical handling services, and it is one of the fastest-growing sectors in our industry,” Managing Director of FCS Thomas Schürmann commented. He further stated, “I am delighted that, with our new Pharma Center, we not only offer the ideal conditions to achieve full control throughout the handling process, but are also optimally prepared for future growth due to an extended facility.”
