Hong Kong Air Cargo Expands

As the hub keeps expanding, competition in air freight has shifted from “whether there are aircraft flying” to “whether my cargo can get there faster and more reliably” — just like choosing a direct flight or a connection when travelling: a direct flight saves time and adds peace of mind, while a connection saves cost but time becomes its price.

Americas: Cathay adds Americas freighters from this month; its cargo airline to add regional capacity within the year

Americas: Cathay Cargo has added freighter capacity towards the Americas from August, with its affiliated cargo airline adding aircraft on selected regional routes within the year. In other words, more direct-freighter space is available for high-value, time-critical cargo bound for the United States, Canada and South America (for example semiconductors, electronics and pharmaceutical samples).

Two “dedicated services” (mainly for cargo that “can't wait”): one specialising in priority transport for expensive goods such as semiconductors; and one for compliant transport with added capacity for dangerous goods such as lithium batteries.

India: Hong Kong–Mumbai NMIA first flight on August 16; first international carrier

Hong Kong's local cargo airline Hong Kong Air Cargo also launched freighter flights to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) in India in August, becoming the first international cargo airline to serve this new airport. That gives exporters from Hong Kong to the Mumbai area another “direct” air freight channel, without transiting through Dubai, Singapore or elsewhere.

With Hong Kong Air Cargo expanding on both fronts in the same period, it is not hard to see that high-value cargo (semiconductors, lithium batteries, pharmaceuticals) and India trade are both growing rapidly, and more and more customers focus not on freight rates but on efficiency.The essence of a carrier's business is exchanging service for stickiness — the more you depend on its reliability, the harder it is to leave it.

Recommendations after the dual-route capacity increase:

« High-value/time-sensitive cargo (semiconductors, electronics, pharmaceuticals, samples) to the Americas: evaluate Cathay's new freighter space first, and lock it in early in peak season;

« Exports to India: NMIA direct can be a new option, but for the first shipment be sure to confirm customs clearance at the new airport, ground transfer and coordination between shipper and consignee;

« Dangerous goods such as lithium batteries: confirm the carrier's dedicated qualifications and space allocation, and allow longer approval time;

« Build “lead-time certainty” into air freight selection: buy direct flights/space guarantees for urgent cargo, compare prices for ordinary cargo, and don't pay for priority you won't use.