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Airport Authority Hong Kong Welcomes Policy Address Establishes civil aviation academy to nurture talent for airport’s future

2016/01/13

(HONG KONG, 13 January 2016)  –  The Chief Executive said in today’s 2016 Policy Address that to further strengthen Hong Kong’s edge as a major regional aviation hub, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) plans to establish a civil aviation academy to nurture local and regional aviation management talent. Commenting on the address, the AA said it will implement the plan as soon as possible.

Jack So Chak-kwong, Chairman of the AA, said, “The aviation industry is an important economic contributor to Hong Kong. It is estimated that after the Three-runway System is completed, it will provide 123,000 direct jobs associated with Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). Setting up a civil aviation academy in time will help us develop the talent reserves the airport needs in order to meet its massive future traffic demands. This is key to ensuring that it has staff with professional training and experience, and that it continues to perform as the world’s best airport.”

Currently there are approximately 73,000 employees working at HKIA. According to the initial plan, the civil aviation academy will train operations management staff, technical staff and service staff to address the airport’s current staffing demands, as well as in the medium and long terms.

The AA said it will develop the training scopes, curriculum design and operational details of the civil aviation academy within the year. The AA added that it will continue to work closely with the Government and other members of the aviation industry to launch the academy expediently.

Currently the AA holds training programmes every year to nurture potential talent for the future development of both HKIA and the AA. These include a Management Trainee Programme and a Graduate Engineer Programme.

In 2015, HKIA handled 68.5 million passengers and 406,000 aircraft movements, representing year-on-year increases of 8.1% and 3.8% respectively. The AA estimates that the airport will reach its capacity within this year. In response, the AA will invest HK$40 billion over the next eight years to enhance HKIA’s facilities so the airport can meet its traffic demands before the completion of the Three-runway System.

The HK$10-billion Midfield Concourse, which is built by the AA to meet HKIA’s medium-term demand, was completed and opened on schedule at the end of last year.

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