Record breaking: Air cargo throughput at the Hong Kong International Airport reached a new high of 319,000 tonnes in November.

Air cargo throughput at the Hong Kong International Airport reached a record high of 319,000 tonnes in November, up 7.9% over the same month last year, the Airport Authority says.

During the month, passenger flow rose 6.2% to 3.36 million while aircraft movements soared 12.9% to 22,815.

Passenger throughput for the last 12 months reached 40.5 million while cargo throughput hit 3.37 million tonnes. There were 260,690 aircraft movements in the past 12 months.

The authority's Commercial Director Hans Bakker said, stimulated by the Christmas season, cargo throughput in November is expected to be the peak month of the year.

To enhance the airport's position as the world's largest international cargo airport, the authority plans to build 10 more cargo stands by 2007.