Hong Kong Airport Signs Belt and Road Aviation Deals with Turkish Carrier, Uzbek Airport
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong International Airport reinforced its role as a global aviation hub by signing two key agreements at the Belt and Road Summit on September 9, 2026. The Airport Authority of Hong Kong exchanged a memorandum of understanding with Turkish cargo carrier MNG Airlines and signed a cooperation agreement supporting the development of Navoi International Airport in Uzbekistan. Cheung Lei Jia-hui, Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Authority, noted that as of March 2026, HKIA connects to 78 destination airports across 41 Belt and Road countries, demonstrating the strategic importance of these partnerships.
Key Points
- MNG Airlines, Turkey's first private cargo airline headquartered at Istanbul Airport, currently operates 8-10 weekly cargo flights between Turkey and Hong Kong, with plans to increase frequency to meet growing demand
- The MoU with MNG Airlines covers multiple cooperation areas including enhancing air connectivity, promoting operational excellence, sharing management expertise, supporting sustainability, and developing talent through the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy
- Navoi International Airport development agreement was signed by HKIA Consultants CEO Li Tin-chu and Gihon Strategy Chief Strategy Officer Ip Kwan-shing, with Navoi Airport Director Alisher Klichev and HKIA CEO Cheung Lei Jia-hui attending as witnesses
- Belt and Road Commissioner Ho Lik-chi presided over the MoU exchange ceremony between HKIA CEO Cheung Lei Jia-hui and MNG Airlines CEO Ali Sedat Özkazanç
- MNG Airlines operates cargo flights to over 60 destinations across Europe, Asia, and North America, serving as a key link in the Belt and Road air cargo network
Why It Matters
These agreements position Hong Kong as a critical aviation bridge connecting Asia with Central Asia and Europe through the Belt and Road framework. The partnerships leverage Hong Kong's airport management expertise to help develop regional aviation infrastructure while expanding cargo capacity for Hong Kong-based logistics and trading companies .
These agreements position Hong Kong as a critical aviation bridge connecting Asia with Central Asia and Europe through the Belt and Road framework. The partnerships leverage Hong Kong's airport management expertise to help develop regional aviation infrastructure while expanding cargo capacity for Hong Kong-based logistics and trading companies .