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 facilities in the world.

In 2009, 46.2 million passengers used the airport, and some 3.35 million tonnes of air cargo passed through Hong Kong. With over 800 aircraft movements every day and around 95 airlines operating from HKIA, the airport links Hong Kong with about 150 destinations around the world, including some 40 cities on the Chinese Mainland.

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 about 30 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 60,000-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's Maritime Ferry Terminal, 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. Facilities completed in recent years included Terminal 2, 10 new cargo stands, HKIA Tower, the Airport World Trade Centre and the new SkyPier.

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 and within a few years, additional hangars for aircraft maintenance and business jets will come into service.

Planning for the future, HKIA has been looking at the potential development of the Midfield for more bridge-served parking stands and terminal facilities. We are in the course of preparing HKIA Master Plan 2030 - a 20-year blueprint that charts out the long-term development of HKIA. We are also doing the engineering feasibility and environmental studies on building a third runway at the airport.

* A brief history of Kai Tak Airport can be found here.