Hong Kong Airport Authority and Qatar Airways Cargo sign MOU to strengthen aviation ties and develop cooperation

The Zhitong Finance App learned that on August 19, Qatar Airways Cargo established a regional air cargo office in Hong Kong and signed the “Memorandum of Understanding between the Hong Kong Airport Authority and Qatar Airways Cargo on Strengthening Aviation Connectivity and Aviation Development Cooperation” (“Memorandum of Understanding”) with the Hong Kong Airport Authority (HKAA) to strengthen aviation links and aviation development cooperation.

The Secretary for Transport and Logistics of Hong Kong, Mrs Chan, attended the opening ceremony and witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding. She said, “I welcome Qatar Airways Cargo's choice to establish a regional office in Hong Kong. This move fully reflects the airline's confidence and recognition of Hong Kong as an international aviation hub. Hong Kong and Qatar have always established a good foundation of cooperation in aviation. The memorandum of understanding signed today is extremely strategic and takes the partnership between the two places to a new level.”

She added that Hong Kong International Airport, as the busiest cargo airport in the world, will join forces with the world-renowned airline Qatar Airways Cargo to exert greater synergy and promote the seamless flow of global cargo. She also took the lead in announcing at the ceremony that local airlines will announce details of new flights to Almaty, Kazakhstan tomorrow (August 20) to further expand Hong Kong's global aviation network. She said that with the three-runway system being put into operation, the capacity of Hong Kong International Airport has increased dramatically. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will seize the opportunities brought by the system and the country's support for the “Air Silk Road”, continue to strengthen aviation service links with global aviation partners, and prioritize regions with further development potential and emerging growth, such as South America, Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

At the ceremony, Eric Wilson, senior vice president of cargo sales at Qatar Airways, praised Hong Kong International Airport for its world-class infrastructure, excellent handling efficiency, and strategic location, as Asia's premier air cargo hub. He said, “By establishing a regional office in Hong Kong and deepening cooperation with the Hong Kong Airport Authority, the Group will have excellent conditions to use Hong Kong's advantages to further connect the global network to the dynamic markets of Asia and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.”

The Memorandum of Understanding will help Hong Kong International Airport absorb a larger cargo volume, and at the same time make good use of Qatar Airways' cargo capacity, strengthen links with promising markets such as South American destinations, and further expand Hong Kong International Airport's global aviation network. The Memorandum of Understanding also covers cooperation between the two parties in promoting operational excellence and improving service quality, and supporting sustainable development and talent training.

The HKSAR Government has always been committed to promoting the long-term development of the aviation industry. To further strengthen Hong Kong's position as an international aviation hub, the Civil Aviation Department announced the extension of the relevant exemptions for non-scheduled cargo flights and encouraged airlines to increase the number of scheduled cargo flights and develop new cargo routes. Meanwhile, the Government will continue to cooperate closely with the Hong Kong Airport Authority to actively expand the aviation network to seize market growth opportunities.