News / Hactl chief backs Bay Area cargo strategy as Cathay adds barge link

Image: Cathay Cargo

Hong Kong’s air cargo sector is increasingly looking beyond the airport for growth, with Cathay Cargo launching a new refrigerated barge service into Dongguan as Hactl’s new CEO describes intermodal links with mainland China as one of the territory’s biggest strategic opportunities. 

The airline this week unveiled a refrigerated barge service connecting Hong Kong International Airport directly with Cathay Cargo Terminal Dongguan, alongside an extension of its Air-Land Fresh Lane to Macao, creating what it describes as a fully integrated perishables network spanning air, land, and sea.  

While the announcement focuses on perishables, it also reflects a broader shift in Hong Kong’s cargo strategy: using multimodal links to connect manufacturers and consumers across the Greater Bay Area (GBA) with Hong Kong’s extensive international air network. 

That view was echoed by newly appointed Hactl chief executive Frosti Lau, who told The Loadstar intermodal connectivity represented “a very big opportunity” for Hong Kong. 

“How can we make sure that the handling part may be cheaper in China, but still make use of the great network that Hong Kong Airport can support? It is a very important thing,” he said, describing the development as “almost like a mission” for Hong Kong’s cargo community.  

Mr Lau, who took over as Hactl CEO in June after more than 20 years with Cathay Pacific, said he was looking forward to the next phase of development at the Airport Authority Hong Kong’s Dongguan Logistics Park, where a permanent facility is expected to open next year. 

He noted that new vessel designs would improve resilience during poor weather, while lower handling costs on the mainland, combined with Hong Kong’s global air connectivity, could strengthen the city’s competitive position.  

The comments come as Hong Kong continues to reposition itself within the Greater Bay Area logistics ecosystem. 

Rather than competing solely as a point of origin for cargo, the city is increasingly acting as the international gateway for freight moving between mainland China and overseas markets, with bonded road, sea, and air links enabling cargo to clear export formalities before reaching Hong Kong International Airport. 

Cathay’s latest initiative builds on that model. 

Its new refrigerated barge service is the first commercial air-sea perishables solution linking Hong Kong with the wider GBA. Cargo is loaded intact onto barges bound for Cathay Cargo Terminal Dongguan, where it is collected from dedicated cold storage facilities, offering a lower-cost alternative to air for shipments where speed is less critical.  

Meanwhile, the extension of the Air-Land Fresh Lane across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge enables perishables to reach customers in Macao as little as four hours after arrival at Hong Kong International Airport, with customs and quarantine formalities completed en route.  

Cathay Cargo’s general manager cargo commercial, James Evans, said the three intermodal options of air-air, air-land, and air-sea gave customers greater flexibility while reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as a regional cargo gateway. 

“The Greater Bay Area is a key growth market for premium perishables, and we have listened closely to our customers, enhancing connectivity and strengthening service assurance across every touchpoint,” he said. “With three intermodal routes now fully operational – each offering distinct advantages in speed, cost and flexibility – we remain committed to further expanding our network as demand continues to grow.”  

For Mr Lau, the wider significance extends beyond individual products. 

“I think this is one very big opportunity that the Hong Kong community and international carriers need to look at,” he said.