The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has revised its air passenger traffic projections for Hong Kong, acknowledging the Special Administrative Region (SAR) government’s efforts to alleviate the labour shortage in the aviation sector. The new projections now anticipate a recovery to pre-crisis levels by the end of 2024, aligning Hong Kong’s recovery timeline with the expected faster rebound of the Asia-Pacific region.
China’s earlier-than-anticipated reopening has provided a significant boost to passenger recovery in Hong Kong’s aviation industry, showing promising signs. Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, stated that Hong Kong’s air traffic is expected to return to pre-crisis levels by the end of 2024 and commended the government for implementing measures to ensure workforce availability.
To address the labour shortage, the Hong Kong government has initiated a labour importation scheme, aiming to recruit 6,300 workers from mainland China to bolster the airport workforce. While air travel demand remains strong, airlines in Hong Kong face challenges related to supply chain issues and labour scarcity.
IATA, in collaboration with the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), will organize the Hong Kong Aviation Day in August 2023, facilitating collaboration and dialogue among industry stakeholders.
