Robust growth: Passenger and cargo throughput grew 9.1% (to 44.45 million passengers) and 5.2% (to 3.58 million tonnes) last year.

Passenger throughput grew 9.1% (to 44.45 million passengers) and cargo 5.2% (to 3.58 million tonnes) last year, boosted by continued economic expansion in Hong Kong and the Mainland. Aircraft movements grew 6.4%, to 280,490 flights.

Airport Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr David Pang said the figures mark solid growth in passenger volume from Southeast Asia and the Mainland, and the outlook for 2007 is positive.

Nine carriers joined Hong Kong's extensive network, bringing the number of destinations served by the airport to 150, including 40 Mainland cities.

Oasis Hong Kong Airlines, the world's first long-haul budget carrier, was among the new comers that launched a Hong Kong-London service in October.

Driven by strong demand during the holiday season, passenger numbers for December reached 3.91 million, 9.2% higher than the same month in 2005. Cargo throughput and aircraft movements were 319,000 tonnes and 24,250 flights, up 2.8% and 3.3% on the same period a year earlier.