The practical maximum runway capacity of the existing two-runway system of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is about 420,000 flight movements annually and it is estimated that the airport will reach its maximum capacity sometime between 2019 and 2022.

In 2011 the Airport Authority carried out a three-month consultation to gauge public opinion on HKIA's future development.  Seventy-three percent of respondents supported the proposal to expand HKIA into a three-runway system to meet the airport's long-term growth demand.

Under a three-runway system, HKIA will be able to accommodate 620,000 flight movements per year, meeting demand projections up to and possibly beyond 2030.

The recommendation is for a third runway to be located north and parallel to the existing two runways. Development of the three-runway system will involve:

• Land formation of about 650 hectares to the north of the existing airport island, about 40% of which falls on an area of contaminated mud pits;
• Construction of a third runway, related taxiway systems and navigation aids, and airfield facilities;
• Construction of the third runway aprons and passenger concourses;
• Expansion of part of the Midfield freighter apron;
• Expansion of the existing Terminal 2;
• Extension of the automated people mover;

• Extension of the baggage handling system;
• Improvement of the road network in the passenger and cargo areas as well as new landside transportation facilities, including new car parks;
• A greywater recycling system at the proposed airport expansion area (with a capacity of about 15,000 m³ per day);
• Necessary modifications to existing marine facilities including the underwater aviation fuel pipelines and 11kV submarine cable between HKIA and the off-airport fuel receiving facilities, sea rescue facilities and navigation aids; and
• Any other modification, reconfiguration, and / or improvement of the facilities on the existing airport island as a result of the third runway.

A dedicated website has been launched to provide updated information about the expansion of HKIA into a three-runway system. For details, please click here.