HKIA's three-runway system launched tomorrow, aiming to increase passenger and cargo volumes

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA)'s three-runway system will be launched tomorrow (Nov. 28). According to reports, Chief Executive John Lee and Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung and other officials will attend the inauguration ceremony in the airport's restricted area tomorrow afternoon.

The Airport Authority previously indicated that the three-runway system will operate in phases, gradually increasing capacity. It is expected that in about ten years, the airport will be able to handle 120 million passengers and 10 million tons of cargo annually.

Rock Chen Chung-nin, Airport Authority board member and LegCo member stated that the authorities are working to negotiate freedom of the air with airlines and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative to ease restrictions.

He believes that the expected passenger and cargo volumes can be achieved by the medium to long term, around 2030, with the primary goal of restoring the pre-pandemic level of 70 million passengers annually.

He also hopes that Hong Kong Airport can collaborate with Zhuhai Airport to facilitate more long-haul connections to international cities.

Dr. Law Cheung-kok, a senior advisor at the Aviation Policy and Research Centre of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, noted that authorities should introduce more low-cost carriers to attract more travelers. Before the pandemic, many low-cost carriers intended to apply for slots at the Hong Kong airport, but the two runways were already saturated at that time.

He believes that more low-cost carriers can be introduced with the three-runway system in operation, potentially increasing their overall market share from the current 10% to a higher percentage. In Asia, low-cost carriers account for as much as 30% of the total five countries.

He mentioned that some airports in the Greater Bay Area already have three or even four runways and that, facing this competition, Hong Kong should collaborate more with mainland airports to attract national travelers.

Related News:

Attention! Thefts inside aircraft cabins at Narita International Airport surges

'HK City Sightseeing' and 'Citybus+' sightseeing passes launched