Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is located less than five flying hours from half of the world's population. We are the third busiest international passenger airport and operate the busiest international cargo facility in the world.
In 2011, 53.9 million passengers used HKIA and some 3.9 million tonnes of air cargo passed through Hong Kong. HKIA is connected to about 160 destinations, including around 40 in the Mainland, through about 900 daily flights by over 100 airlines.
Since we commenced operations in July 1998, we have made every effort to provide passengers with customer-focused facilities and services. This commitment has earned us the recognition as the world's best airport 50 times.
With the opening of Terminal 2 in June 2007, HKIA is now a two-terminal and two-runway facility contributing to the economic growth for Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. Today, the 65,000-strong airport community serves as the key contributor to Hong Kong's position as a leading international and regional aviation centre.
Multi-modal Mainland connections
HKIA is a gateway of China. To serve growing demand, we will continue to strengthen our integrated, multi-modal transport network with the Mainland, especially the PRD.
Every day, cross-boundary coaches carry passengers on about 460 round trips linking HKIA with 115 PRD cities and towns. Passengers looking for point-to-point transport services can use the cross-boundary limousine to get to your PRD destinations directly.
The SkyPier cross-boundary ferry service connects passengers between the PRD and international destinations via HKIA, in comfort and without going through immigration and customs formalities in Hong Kong.
Eight ports – Shekou and Fuyong in Shenzhen , Guangzhou Nansha, Dongguan Humen, Zhongshan, Zhuhai Jiuzhou as well as Macao's Maritime Ferry Terminal and Taipa – currently offer these speedy cross-boundary arrangements. Passengers can even pre-check their baggage and obtain their boarding pass at Shekou, Macao Maritime Ferry Terminal, Macao Taipa, Fuyong and Dongguan Humen.
Building a better airport
A HK$50 billion investment, HKIA has been one of the largest engineering and architectural projects in the world. In recent years, we invested an average of more than HK$2 billion a year to expand capacity and enhance airport facilities.
Everything we do is focused on strengthening Hong Kong’s long-term competitiveness. In this regard, we have undertaken a HK$4.5 billion programme for Terminal 1 capacity enhancement and airfield improvements such as the building of North Satellite Concourse, the reconfiguration of the Departures Immigration Hall, the addition of new taxiways and resurfacing of the two runways.
To expand aviation support services and air cargo handling facilities, the franchise for a new air cargo terminal was awarded in early 2008. The new air cargo terminal will start operations in 2013.
Planning for the future, we have published the HKIA Master Plan 2030, which outlines the strategic directions of the future development of HKIA. The three-month public consultation for the Master Plan was completed in September 2011. The Social Sciences Research Centre of the University of Hong Kong was tasked to collect, compile and analyse views expressed on the Master Plan. After reviewing the report from the Research Centre, we submitted our recommendations to the HKSAR Government to adopt the three-runway option as the future development blueprint for HKIA for planning purposes. For details, please visit www.hkairport2030.com.
* A brief history of Kai Tak Airport can be found here.
