Air cargo throughput at Hong Kong International Airport reached a record high of 320,000 tonnes in March, up 10% over the same month last year, the Airport Authority says.

During the month, passenger flow rose 7% to 3.55 million, while aircraft movement grew 10.8% to 23,620.

Passenger and air cargo throughput for the past 12 months reached 41.6 million and 3.48 million tonnes, up 8.7% and 10.5% respectively. Aircraft movements grew 11.4% to 270,000.

The authority's Commercial Director, Hans Bakker, expected the current growth momentum to be maintained in April in view of the anticipated surge in exports before the Chinese Mainland's Labour Holiday.

"April's passenger traffic also looks promising with Easter falling in mid-April and the Guangzhou Trade Fair and a series of other trade fairs in Hong Kong scheduled for this month. The last weekend of April falling on the eve of the Labour Day Golden Week will stimulate passenger flow too," he added.