Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) and Airport Authority Hong Kong recently signed an agreement to extend its cargo handling franchise at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) by 15 years. The renewed term takes effect in JUL28, once the current franchise lapses, and runs through to 2043. The deal cements Hactl’s position as Hong Kong’s largest independent air cargo terminal operator and locks in its role at HKIA for nearly two more decades, spanning a period in which the airport is expected to see substantial growth in cargo volumes.
Hactl Chief Executive Frosti Lau framed the agreement as both a vote of confidence in Hong Kong and a long-term commitment to the city’s cargo sector. The company has earmarked HKD 1 billion for upgrading infrastructure, rolling out new technology, and deepening ESG practices across its operations, with the stated goal of lifting service quality while supporting more sustainable operations. The 15-year horizon gives Hactl and the carriers and forwarders that rely on its terminal, long-term operational certainty at one of the world’s key air cargo gateways. The agreement also signals continued confidence in Hong Kong’s air cargo sector at a moment when the airport is scaling up capacity through the Three-Runway System, positioning HKIA to defend its standing among the busiest cargo hubs globally through the 2030s and into the early 2040s.
Frosti Lau, Chief Executive of Hactl, said: “The signing of this new agreement marks an important milestone for Hactl, underscoring our commitment to Hong Kong and our global outlook, while reaffirming our long-term support for the city’s air cargo industry. We will continue to invest heavily, with at least HKD 1 billion allocated to modernizing infrastructure, deploying new technologies, and further embedding ESG principles into every facet of our operations – ensuring superior services while driving sustainable development. With the completion and commissioning of the third runway, Terminal 2, and other facilities under the Three-Runway System, coupled with the government’s strong backing, we are highly confident in the future of the air cargo industry. We will continue to leverage innovation and sustainability to actively align with Hong Kong’s positioning as an international aviation hub under the National 15th Five-Year Plan, reinforcing air cargo as a vital pillar of Hong Kong’s economic development.”
