The IATA World Cargo Symposium in March is expected to draw over 1,000 global attendees. Photo Credit: HKIA
Fast on the heels of its recent hosting of the 3rd JCtrans Global
Freight Forwarders Expo and International Air Transport Association
(IATA) Aviation Day at AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE), Hong Kong continues to
clinch new aviation and logistics events.
It will be hosting the IATA World Cargo Symposium 2024, Aero-Engines
Asia-Pacific 2024 and Super Terminal Expo 2024 for the first time. HKIA
will be the host airport for the 2024 edition of the IATA World Cargo
Symposium in March. The conference is expected to draw over 1,000 global
attendees, and will address topics related to technology and
innovation, security and customs, cargo operations, and sustainability.
Conrad Clifford, deputy director general and corporate secretary,
IATA said: “Hong Kong has the elements needed to retain its status as an
important aviation hub for both passengers and air cargo. This includes
having a strong hub airline, Cathay Pacific, as well as having the
experience and expertise in handling perishable goods, lithium batteries
and other dangerous cargo. I am confident that Hong Kong’s traffic will
return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024, three years earlier
than previously expected. This is in line with expectations of a faster
recovery in the Asia-Pacific region.”
Together with Hong Kong’s home-grown event, Asian Logistics, Maritime
and Aviation Conference (ALMAC) to be held in November 2023, the city
is positioning itself to become a global aviation and logistics hub, and
a gateway of the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Kenneth Wong, GM, MICE & Cruise of the Hong Kong Tourism Board
(HKTB) said: “We are thrilled that Hong Kong has become the destination
of choice for multiple aviation and logistic events! The city’s status
as an aviation hub with a globally connected transportation network, a
future-proof Airport City development, top-notch convention venues and a
gateway to the GBA makes it a strategic choice in the region to host
major industry events. ”
Hong Kong is among the world’s busiest international passenger
airports as it hosts some 120 airlines; it is also the busiest cargo
airport in the world, with cargo throughput of 4.2 million tonnes in
2022, making it one of very few airports that is a leader in both
fields.
Business events at Airport City
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA)’s expansion strategy includes
the Three-runway System that will increase capacity by 50% to serve 120
million passengers and 10 million tonnes of cargo annually.
Besides strengthening the network with GBA cities with new
cross-boundary infrastructure, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will
provide seamless travel via Hong Kong.
As part of the Airport City development, AWE, which is located next
to the international airport, is expanding to house the city's largest
indoor arena with over 20,000 seats.
Simon Li, chairman of AWE said: “AWE takes immense pride in
facilitating transformative dialogues set to redefine the transportation
and logistics sectors. The events will demonstrate the unprecedented
synergies that can be achieved in all-in-one Lantau, the heart of Hong
Kong’s transport network, comprises of new hotels, the city's largest
hub for retail, dining and entertainment – 11SKIES, and an award-winning
MICE venue.”