London-based Air Cargo News, a leading international air cargo trade publication has presented its Cargo Airline of the Year awards over the past 19 years, but this is the first year it has honoured a Cargo Airport of the Year.

HKIA won, against tough competition from airports around the world, including Changi, Dubai, Frankfurt and Paris, said Mr Ray Crane, the publisher of Air Cargo News. "However, our panel of judges were unanimous in choosing Hong Kong for their commitment to developing their cargo product, including multi-modal connections with the Chinese mainland," he said.Each airport considered for the award was appraised according to improvements, innovations, special features and services that made the airport more attractive to air cargo customers. Although HKIA has been the world's busiest airport for international air cargo since 1996, finalists were not chosen on size or tonnage but on their commitment to expanding and improving their services for the benefit of the customers.

"It's a great honor to be selected the inaugural Cargo Airport of the Year" AA Chief Executive Officer Dr David J Pang said. "HKIA could not have achieved this recognition without the commitment and cooperation of our business partners - airlines and integrators, cargo terminal operators, ramp handlers, marine cargo terminal operator, the freight forwarding industry and relevant government departments - and their innovation in advancing integrated air cargo services in the region.

In 2001, HKIA handled 33 million passengers, 2.08 million tonnes of air cargo and 196,800 flight movements. There are two main cargo terminal operators, HACTL and AAT, with a combined capacity of 3 million tonnes. HACTL's SuperTerminal 1 is the world's largest cargo handling facility, accounting for some 80 per cent of throughput at HKIA.

Hong Kong Tradeport, the airport's first on-site dedicated logistics management centre, is under construction and due to open in 2003.

Air cargo handling systems are integrated with the Customs & Excise Department's Air Cargo Clearance System (ACCS), enabling cargo information to be transmitted three hours before shipment arrival.

A generous incentive scheme offering rebates on landing and parking charges for carriers introducing new routes has been in effect since January 2001. Carriers get a 50 per cent rebate in the first year, and 25 per cent in the second.

To compliment multi-model services, one-stop truck services operate between HKIA and Guangzhou Airport, Shenzhen and the manufacturing city of Dongguan. Tender has been invited for the design, development and operation of a dedicated express cargo centre at the airport.