Hong Kong International Airport has strengthened its Belt and Road aviation network through new agreements with Turkish freighter operator MNG Airlines and Harvest Epoch, supporting greater cargo connectivity with Turkey and airport development cooperation in Uzbekistan.
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is expanding its aviation and cargo links across Belt and Road markets through two agreements signed during the Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong on 9 September 2026.
The agreements cover two distinct areas of cooperation: an MoU between Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) and MNG Airlines to strengthen air cargo connectivity and operational cooperation, and a separate agreement between Hong Kong International Airport Consultancy Limited (HKIA Consultancy) and Harvest Epoch Strategic (International) Investment Limited relating to the development of Navoi International Airport in Uzbekistan.
MNG Airlines targets stronger Hong Kong–Turkey cargo connectivity
Under the MoU, AAHK and MNG Airlines will cooperate on enhancing air connectivity with HKIA, improving operational performance and service quality, sharing management expertise and supporting sustainable aviation development.
The partnership will also include talent development through training programmes offered by the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy.
Vivian Cheung, Chief Executive Officer of AAHK, exchanged the signed MoU with Ali Sedat Özkazanç, CEO of MNG Airlines, with Nicolas Ho, Commissioner for Belt and Road, witnessing the signing.
Cheung said HKIA was connected to 78 destination airports in 41 Belt and Road countries and regions as of March 2026, adding that the new agreements would further strengthen the airport’s international aviation position.
Based at Istanbul Airport, MNG Airlines is Turkey’s first privately owned cargo carrier and operates freighter services to more than 60 destinations across Europe, Asia and North America.
The carrier currently operates between eight and 10 freighter flights per week between Turkey and Hong Kong and intends to increase frequencies as cargo demand between the markets continues to grow.
For HKIA, the agreement provides a framework for deepening an already established cargo relationship with Turkey while potentially creating additional capacity on an important Asia-Europe freight corridor.
Airport expertise to support Navoi development
The second agreement extends beyond airline connectivity and focuses on airport development.
HKIA Consultancy and Harvest Epoch Strategic (International) Investment Limited signed a cooperation agreement related to the development of Navoi International Airport in Uzbekistan, a strategically positioned aviation and logistics hub in Central Asia.
The agreement was signed by Simon Li, CEO of HKIA Consultancy, and Yip Koon Shing, Chief Strategic Officer of Harvest Epoch.
The signing was witnessed by Nicolas Ho; Alisher Klichev, Director of Navoi International Airport; Vivian Cheung; and Hermas Tang, Principal Advisor, Aviation Logistics at Harvest Epoch.
The cooperation will draw on Hong Kong’s airport-management and operational experience to support the development of Navoi International Airport and enhance its capabilities as a Belt and Road aviation hub.
The agreement gives HKIA Consultancy an opportunity to apply expertise developed at one of Asia’s major international airports to an emerging Central Asian gateway.
Expanding HKIA’s Belt and Road strategy
The two agreements form part of a broader strategy by Airport Authority Hong Kong to strengthen connectivity with emerging markets while extending Hong Kong’s aviation expertise internationally.
HKIA has been actively expanding its network across Belt and Road markets. In June, AAHK signed separate MoUs with Almaty International Airport in Kazakhstan and Fly Khiva Group in Uzbekistan to strengthen air connectivity and aviation cooperation with Central Asia.
The latest agreements with MNG Airlines and the Navoi airport development project broaden that strategy across both cargo connectivity and airport management cooperation.
For the cargo sector, the MNG partnership is particularly significant as Turkey occupies a strategic position between Asia and Europe and provides access to a broad network of international freighter destinations.
HKIA reinforces its cargo hub position
The agreements come as HKIA continues to strengthen its position as a major global cargo gateway.
Airport Authority Hong Kong reported that HKIA handled 5.1 million tonnes of cargo in the 2025/26 financial year, an increase of 2.7% year on year, maintaining its position as the world’s busiest cargo airport for the 15th time since 2010.
The airport has also continued to expand its international network, adding 26 destinations during the 2025/26 financial year, primarily in emerging markets along the Belt and Road. Around 140 airlines were operating at HKIA by the end of March 2026, connecting Hong Kong with more than 220 destinations worldwide.
The latest agreements therefore extend HKIA’s role beyond its established cargo flows, positioning the airport and its associated consultancy business as partners in the development of international aviation infrastructure and trade corridors.
As trade between Asia, Central Asia and Europe continues to evolve, stronger links with Turkey and Uzbekistan could provide additional opportunities for cargo carriers, freight forwarders and shippers seeking diversified air logistics networks across the Belt and Road region.
