Hong Kong International Airport handled 5.34 million passengers in May 2026, a 10.2% jump year-on-year, as the airport continues its post-pandemic recovery and pushes toward its former status as one of Asia’s premier international hubs.
Flight movements rose 3.6% to 33,655 for the month, with the strongest passenger growth coming from routes serving Mainland China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. A surge in transfer and transit traffic drove much of the increase, peaking at 204,000 daily travelers during China’s Labour Day Golden Week holiday.
The headline network development for U.S. travelers: Delta Air Lines has resumed flights between Hong Kong and Los Angeles, restoring a key transpacific connection that had been suspended. New routes to Phu Quoc and Lanzhou also launched during the period.
On the cargo side, a 23.2% jump in transshipment traffic boosted overall volumes, and trade flows between Hong Kong and the Middle East returned to growth for the first time since regional conflicts disrupted the corridor earlier this year.
For the first five months of 2026, HKIA has handled 27.7 million passengers — up 12.5% versus the same period last year.
Why It Matters: Delta’s LA-Hong Kong resumption is the most actionable item here for U.S. travelers. If you’re routing to Asia through Hong Kong, a recovering hub with growing connectivity and a returning Delta transpacific option is worth factoring into your booking decisions.
Source: Hong Kong Airport Posts Double-Digit Passenger Growth
