Hong Kong Air Cargo has just been granted the Air Operator's Certificate from the Civil Aviation Department. This is the first time in 12 years that a new Hong Kong carrier offering scheduled services has been granted the certificate, marking a glorious milestone for Hong Kong's aviation industry.

Hong Kong Air Cargo will introduce new aircraft and a series of supporting infrastructure in order to boost its market competitiveness. To further enhance the logistics network where Hong Kong is the hub, the airline plans to deploy B747 or B777 freighter over the next five years, reaching a double-digit fleet size. At the same time, based on the combined needs of the logistics market, the airline will make use of its new capacity to launch Asia routes to Japan and India as well as long-haul routes to Europe and America. Together with its future land transport and maritime shipping services, Hong Kong Air Cargo will gradually build up its own comprehensive sea, land and air Logistics transportation system.

The Hong Kong International Airport is the world's largest cargo throughput hub airport, handling 4.42 million tons of air cargo throughput in 2015. Hong Kong is able to maintain and develop its position as an international logistics hub thanks to China's Belt and Road initiative, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Big Bay Area development plan and a series of large-scale transport infrastructure projects like the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, and the 3-runway system at the Hong Kong International Airport. Hong Kong will further cement its position as the gateway and hub of the Pearl River Delta economic zone and continue to serve as the bridgehead for the mainland's foreign trade and transportation.

Hong Kong Air Cargo is honoured to obtain the Air Operator's Certificate, and will cherish the opportunity to take root in Hong Kong and, through integrating national policies, continue to expand and provide a wide range of employment opportunities, delivering benefits to the people of Hong Kong.

Contributed by Hong Kong Air Cargo