In its regular newsletter to the industry – Cargo Clan – Cathay Pacific Cargo has looked back at what has been a particularly challenging year for any business based at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), as well as what can be expected for 2020.
The continuing demonstrations and protests at HKIA have had an impact on business, of course, but Nelson Chin, Cathay Pacific Cargo’s general manager cargo and commercial and author of Cargo Clan, has said that there is much also to look back on with pride as regards 2019.
Chin further added that Cathay Pacific Cargo has remained “resolutely committed to the development of our cargo business”, and that 2019 has had its fair share of problems but brought much more.
The freight carrier ramped up its operations to meet the increased demands of this peak season, Chin observed, and even flew one of its freighters into South America on a cherry charter for the first time.
“Our growth in South America has been a particularly bright spot over the last few years,” he opined, saying this had been driven by the ambitions of South American customers to grow their Asian business and made possible by collaboration with interline partners.
Corporate transformation
The coming 12 months of 2020 will be a busy time, he continued, given the airline’s ongoing corporate transformation.
Earlier this month, Cathay Pacific Cargo announced a terminal charge concession for its customers in order to increase competitiveness, as well as – said Chin – “demonstrating our commitment to developing Hong Kong as the premier air cargo hub globally”. China said that the expectation is that 2020 will be another challenging year for the international airfreight industry, though Cathay Pacific Cargo’s own market outlook remains “cautiously optimistic”, based on expectations of an easing of trade tensions, moderate improvement in GDP growth and continued e-commerce growth.
Source : Various Agencies