Hong Kong recovery quickens as Beijing battles back

Print Article E-Mail Article

Passenger traffic hits 80% of normal figures in Hong Kong while Beijing Capital International Airport struggles to reach 60%

Hong Kong International Airport continued its dramatic recovery from SARS this week, with traffic already back to 80% of the normal levels for this time of year. Airport Authority Hong Kong said that on Sunday 86,000 people passed through the airport, and airport chairman Victor Fung said he was hopeful of a full recovery by December. Business travel had already fully recovered, he added. During May, the worst month of SARS, Hong Kong cancelled 50% of its flights and passenger levels dropped below 10,000 per day, less than 10% of normal traffic.

Elsewhere the recovery was slower. At Beijing Capital International Airport a spokesman said traffic was back to 26% of normal in June and 57% so far in July.

"At least that's almost a 30% improvement in a month, a good bounce back," he said. At its worst in May traffic in Beijing reached just single percentage figures of normal passenger numbers.

Today (Wednesday) Beijing Airport begins a total remodelling of its main duty free shop, with two new brand boutiques due to be opened by Hermes and Cartier in prominent positions just after passport control.

"Everything in the duty free shop will change, including wall bays, liquor and tobacco layout, everything," added the spokesman. Renovations are due for completion by August 30.