Hong Kong International Airport

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Hong Kong International Airport
香港國際機場
IATA: HKG - ICAO: VHHH
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Airport Authority
Serves Hong Kong
Elevation AMSL 28 ft (9 m)
Coordinates 22°18′32″N, 113°54′52″E
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
07R/25L 12,467 3,800 Asphalt
07L/25R 12,467 3,800 Asphalt

Hong Kong International Airport (IATA: HKG, ICAO: VHHH) (Chinese: 香港國際機場; Jyutping: hoeng1 gong2 gwok3 zai3 gei1 coeng4; Mandarin Pinyin: Xiānggǎng Guójì Jīcháng) is the principal airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport (Chinese: 赤鱲角機場; Jyutping: cek3 laap6 gok3 gei1 coeng4; Mandarin Pinyin: Chìliè Jiǎo Jīcháng), due to the fact that it was built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation.

It opened for commercial operations in 1998, and is an important regional trans-shipment centre, passenger hub and gateway for destinations in mainland China, East Asia and Southeast Asia. Despite its relatively short history, the airport has won several notable international "Best Airport" awards, although it lost out to Singapore Changi Airport in the Skytrax "Best airport" award in 2006, having won it from 2001-2005. It is currently given a rating of four stars by Skytrax's airport grading exercise along with five other airports.[1]

The airport operates around-the-clock and is capable of handling 45 million passengers and three million tonnes of cargo a year. It is the primary hub for Cathay Pacific and Dragonair, along with several other smaller airlines, including Hong Kong Express, Hong Kong Airlines, Oasis Hong Kong Airlines and Air Hong Kong.

Contents

[edit] History

See also: Aviation history of Hong Kong
The interior of Terminal 1, Hong Kong International Airport.
The interior of Terminal 1, Hong Kong International Airport.

The airport was built on a largely artificial island reclaimed from Chek Lap Kok and Lam Chau. The two former islands that were levelled comprise about 25% of the surface area of the airport's 12.48 km² platform. It is connected to the northern side of Lantau Island near the historic village of Tung Chung, now expanded into a new town. Land reclamation for the airport added nearly 1% to the entirety of Hong Kong's surface area. It replaced the former Hong Kong International Airport (popularly known by its former name Kai Tak Airport), which was located in the Kowloon City area with a single runway extending into Kowloon Bay close to the urban built-up areas.[2]

Construction of the new airport was only part of the Airport Core Programme, which also involved construction of new road and rail links to the airport, with associated bridges and tunnels, and major land reclamation projects on both Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon. The project is the most expensive airport project, according to Guinness World Records. Construction of the new airport was voted as one of the Top 10 Construction Achievements of the 20th Century at the ConExpo conference in 1999.[3]

Opened in 6 July 1998, which is one week later than Kuala Lumpur International Airport ,it took six years and US $20 billion to build. The architects were Foster and Partners. For three to five months after its opening, it suffered various severe organizational, mechanical, and technical problems that almost crippled the airport. At one time, the government reopened the cargo terminal at Kai Tak Airport to handle freight traffic due to a breakdown at the new cargo terminal, named Super Terminal One (ST1). Luckily, things started to settle down after six months and the airport started to operate normally.

On 28 February 2007, the second terminal of the airport opened, with a new Airport Express platform opened serving the new terminal. The terminal also features a new shopping mall SkyPlaza, providing a large variety of shops, restaurants and entertaining facilities.

SkyCity is currently being built directly across from the airport. It currently includes the AsiaWorld-Expo and the SkyPier. Planned for development is a golf course, Marriott hotel, and business centre. [4]

[edit] Operations

Statistics
2006
Number of Passengers 44,450,000
Number of Takeoffs/Landing 280,490
Cargo Handled 3,580,000 tonnes
Capacity
Passenger (current) 45,000,000
Passenger (ultimate) 87,000,000
Cargo (current) 3m tonnes
Cargo (ultimate) 9m tonnes
Apron (current) 96
Number of destinations
International (air) 150
International (water) 6

The airport is operated by the Airport Authority Hong Kong, a statutory body wholly owned by the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) is responsible for the provision of air traffic control services, certification of Hong Kong registered aircraft, monitoring of airlines on their compliance with bilateral Air Services Agreements, and the regulation of general civil aviation activities.

The airport has two parallel runways, both of which are 3800 metres in length and 60 metres wide, enabling them to cater to the next generation of aircraft. The south runway has been given a Category II Precision Approach, while the north runway has the higher Category IIIA rating, which allows pilots to land in only 200 metre visibility. The two runways have an ultimate capacity of over 60 aircraft movements an hour. At present there are 49 frontal stands, 28 remote stands and 25 cargo stands. Five parking bays at the Northwest Concourse are already capable of accommodating the arrivals of the next generation of aircraft.

The airport was the third busiest airport for passenger traffic in Asia in 2005, and the world's second busiest airport for cargo traffic in 2005. In terms of international traffic, the airport is the third busiest for passenger traffic and the busiest for cargo since its operation in 1998. There are 85 international airlines providing about 760 scheduled passenger and all-cargo flights each day between Hong Kong and some 150 destinations worldwide. About 76 percent of these flights are operated with wide-bodied jets. There are also an average of approximately 31 non-scheduled passenger and cargo flights each week.

The operation of scheduled air services to and from Hong Kong is facilitated by air services agreements between Hong Kong and other countries. Since the opening of HKIA, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has implemented a policy of progressive liberalisation of air services with the intention of promoting consumer choice and competition.

The airport expansion opportunities are subject to variables. A proposal to build a third runway has been under feasibility study and consultation but would be very expensive as it would involve additional reclamation from deep waters.[citation needed] There exists only one airway between Hong Kong and mainland China, as the Chinese military very carefully controls Chinese airspace. This single route is often and easily backed up causing delays in both Hong Kong and mainland China. Finally, China requires that aircraft flying the single air route between Hong Kong and mainland China be at an altitude of least 15,000 feet. Talks are underway to persuade the Chinese military to relax its airspace restriction in view of worsening air traffic congestion at the airport.


[edit] Airlines based at HKIA

Map showing airport location (in yellow) on the north shore of Lantau Island
Map showing airport location (in yellow) on the north shore of Lantau Island

Several airlines are based at Hong Kong International Airport:

Recreational flying in Hong Kong is catered for by the Hong Kong Aviation Club, which undertakes flying training for private pilots and provides facilities for private owners.

The Government Flying Service provides short and long range search and rescue services, police support, medical evacuation and general purpose flights for the Government.

[edit] Passenger facilities

Terminal 1 Departures Hall entrance
Terminal 1 Departures Hall entrance

The airport is one of the most accessible in operation today. Despite its size, the passenger terminal is designed for maximum convenience. A simple layout and effective signage, moving walkways and the automated people mover (Destinations: West Hall <-> Southwest <-> Northwest at 62 km/h every 1.5 minutes carrying 304 passengers every APM from opening and closing time of 0600 to 2400) allow quick and easy movement throughout the building. Facilities for the disabled are in place to meet world requirements. The airport is also served by a complete transport system which was operational from the very beginning. The fully integrated ground transportation centre was designed together with the passenger terminal. It provides immediate access to and from the airport express train as well as other public transport services such as buses, coaches, hotel limousines, and taxis. The airport also has a large number of restaurants and shops, catering to the different needs of passengers. It is largely a non-smoking area, apart from designated smoking rooms. Even the lavatories are probably among the world's cleanest and best maintained. The airport also features a driverless people mover system consisting of 3 stations to provide fast transportation from check-in area to gates (and vice versa). These trains travel at 90km/h and the service is provided for free to all passengers and crew. (HKIA Automated People Mover)

According to its website, the passenger terminal 1 of the HKIA is the world's largest airport terminal building, with a total gross floor area of 570,000 m²(it was 550,000 m² before the expansion of the East Hall). Despite claims from the owner of the new Bangkok airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport, that their new passenger terminal is the world's largest at 563,000 m². HKIA still maintains at number one with 570,000 m² when the airport authority completed expanding within the existing terminal in 2004 from 550,000 m² to make room for the greatly expanded shopping mall, SkyMart, which is 39,000 sq m itself at the East Hall area. The 570,000 m² figure does not include the new 140,000 m² Passenger Terminal 2 and the SkyPlaza.

The Terminal 2 of the Hong Kong International Airport, together with the Skyplaza, opened on February 28, 2007 along with the opening of the Airport Station's Platform 3[5]. It is used for departures of passengers only with no arrival facilities. So far only Oasis Hong Kong and Emirates have relocated their operation to T2. But several other airlines including Royal Jordanian and Shanghai Airlines are slated to move to the new Terminal shortly. After check in, passengers will get to the gates at Terminal 1 by the underground automated people mover. The SkyPlaza situates in the Terminal 2. It offers over 110 shops and 23 restaurants, and also 4 entertaining sections, including a 4D theater, Aviation Discovery Centre, Asia Hollywood, and i-Sports providing virtual reality sports games.

The Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre (BAC) is located within the confines of the airport and has its own terminal and facilities separate from the public terminal. It provides a full range of services for executive aircraft and passengers, including passenger lounge, private rooms and showers, business centre facilities, ground handling, baggage handling, fuelling, security, customs and flight planning. Designated spaces and hangarage are also provided at the BAC for private aircraft.

[edit] Intermodal transportation hub

A view of the airport from the air
A view of the airport from the air

Airport business is the management of flow: the flow of passengers, cargo and information. To sustain the growth of flows, the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) formulated a “push and pull through” strategy to expand its connections to new sources of passengers and cargo. This means adapting the network to the rapidly-growing markets in Mainland China and in particular to the Pearl River Delta region (PRD). 2003 marked a major improvement in connection to the PRD region: the opening of a new Airport-Mainland Coach Station as well as the SkyPier airport ferry terminal. The coach station features a 230 m² waiting lounge and sheltered bays for ten coaches. The dedicated coach terminal provides a comfortable environment for passengers travelling between HKIA and different cities in PRD. Some 100 buses are operating per day to transport passengers between HKIA and some 18 destinations in PRD. HKIA’s network to the Mainland is also further strengthened by the opening of SkyPier in late September 2003, offering millions in the PRD direct access to the airport. Passengers coming to SkyPier by high-speed ferries will board bonded buses for onward flights while arriving air passengers can board ferries at the pier for their journeys back to PRD. Passengers travelling both directions can bypass custom and immigration formalities, which halves the current four hour transit time. Four ports – Shekou, Shenzhen, Macau and Humen (Dongguan) – were initially served, extending to Zhuhai, Guangzhou and Zhongshan at the end of 2003. The provision of crossboundary coach and ferry services has transformed HKIA into a truly inter-modal transportation hub combining air, sea and land transport. These are also significant steps forward in AA’s integration with the Mainland Chinese market.

[edit] Baggage and Ramp Handling

Ramp handling services are provided by Hong Kong Airport Services Limited (HAS), Jardine Air Terminal Services Limited, and Menzies Aviation Group (Hong Kong) Limited. Their services include the handling of mail and passenger baggage, transportation of cargo, aerobridge operations and the operation of passenger stairways. The airport has an advanced baggage handling system (BHS), the main section of which is located in the basement level of the passenger terminal, and a separate remote transfer facility at the western end of the main concourse for handling of tight connection transfer bags. The BHS processes departure, arrival and transfer bags and utilises a conveyor that is more than 24 kilometres long. Bar coding scanners read the standard International Air Transport Association (IATA) baggage labels and route bags to their destinations. The majority of the arrival bags are conveyed to 12 reclaim carousels within four minutes from off-loading or 20 minutes from aircraft landing.

[edit] Air cargo

HKIA is capable of handling three million tonnes of cargo annually. Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited operates one of the two air cargo terminals at the airport. Its headquarters, the 270,000 m² SuperTerminal 1, is the world’s largest stand-alone air cargo handling facility, with a designed capacity of 2.6 million tonnes of freight a year. The second air cargo terminal is operated by Asia Airfreight Terminal Company Limited, and currently has a capacity of 0.4 million tonnes a year. It is envisaged that HKIA’s total air cargo capacity per annum will reach nine million tonnes ultimately.

[edit] Aircraft maintenance services

Both line and base maintenance services are undertaken by Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company (HAECO), while China Aircraft Services Limited and Pan Asia Pacific Aviation Services Limited carry out line maintenance. Line maintenance services include routine servicing of aircraft performed during normal turnaround periods and regularly scheduled layover periods. Base maintenance covers all airframe maintenance services and, for this, HAECO has a three-bay hangar, which can accommodate up to three Boeing B747-400 aircraft and two Airbus A320 aircraft, and an adjoining support workshop. HAECO also has the world's largest mobile hangar, weighing over 400 tons. It can be used to enclose half of a wide-body airplane, so that the whole facility can fully enclose four 747s when the mobile hangar is used. A new two-bay hangar that locates next to the current one will be in operation by the end of 2006.

[edit] Airport based ground services

Hong Kong International Airport - Outside
Hong Kong International Airport - Outside

The Air Traffic Control Complex (ATCX), located at the centre of the airfield, is the nerve centre of the entire air traffic control system. Some 370 air traffic controllers and supporting staff work around the clock to provide air traffic control services for the safe and efficient flow of aircraft movements within the Hong Kong Flight Information Region (FIR). At the Air Traffic Control Tower, controllers provide 24-hour aerodrome control services to aircraft operating at the airport. A Backup Air Traffic Control Centre/Tower constructed to the north of the ATCX is available for operational use in the event normal services provided in the ATCX are disrupted by unforeseen circumstances. Apart from serving as an operational backup, the facilities are also used for air traffic control training.

To comply with the Global Implementation Plan, the Civil Aviation Department plans to introduce satellite based Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Systems to enhance flight safety and efficiency as well as to maintain Hong Kong’s status as a centre of international and regional aviation. The project will take 15 years and owing to the complexities involved, extensive studies and trials are being conducted before the new technologies are to be fully adopted. Currently, some of new services, including Digital-Automatic Terminal Information Service (D-ATIS), Digital-Meteorological Information for Aircraft in Flight (D-VOLMET) and delivery of Pre-Departure Clearance (PDC) over data links, are provided at HKIA to enhance the operational efficiency of both pilots and air traffic controllers.

The Airport Meteorological Office (AMO) of the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) provides weather services for the aviation community in accordance with the standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The AMO makes routine and special weather observations and provides fixed-time aerodrome forecasts and landing forecasts for the HKIA. It issues aerodrome warnings on adverse weather for protection of aerodrome facilities and aircraft on the ground. It also issues significant weather information on thunderstorms, tropical cyclones, turbulence, icing, and other hazardous weather which may affect aviation safety in the area within which Hong Kong is responsible for the provision of air traffic services. To enhance the safety of aircraft landing and taking off from HKIA, the AMO issues alerts of low-level windshear and turbulence. For service delivery, the HKO operates a web-based information service through which airline companies can retrieve the latest meteorological information and flight documentation, including weather forecasts for departure, destination and alternate aerodromes, forecast charts of en-route significant weather, wind and temperature data, as well as weather radar and satellite images.

Rescue and fire fighting services within the airport are covered by the Airport Fire Contingent of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department. The contingent has a strength of 282 uniformed members, operating two fire stations and two rescue berths for 24-hour emergency calls. It is equipped with 14 fire appliances which can respond to incidents within two minutes in optimum conditions of visibility and surface conditions, satisfying the relevant recommendation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Two high capacity rescue boats, supported by eight speed boats, form the core of sea rescue operations.

[edit] Airlines and destinations

Terminal 1 check-in area
Terminal 1 check-in area

[edit] Terminal 1

[edit] Terminal 2

[edit] Previous Airlines and destinations

Terminal 2 Departures Hall
Terminal 2 Departures Hall
Terminal 2 check-in area
Terminal 2 check-in area

[edit] Ground Transport

Airport MTR Station
Airport MTR Station
Hong Kong International Airport - Inside
Hong Kong International Airport - Inside
Hong Kong International Airport - Arrival Hall 6
Hong Kong International Airport - Arrival Hall 6

[edit] Rail

The airport can be reached by the Airport Express, a dedicated high-speed rail link provided by the MTR. It takes 24 minutes to reach the airport from the central Hong Kong station, via Kowloon and Tsing Yi stations. Airport Express passengers may check-in for their flights up to a day before their departure, depending on the airline they are travelling with. Check-in counters are available at both the Hong Kong and Kowloon stations on the Airport Express Line.

Passengers may also take the 1-minute journey to AsiaWorld-Expo, which is located also in Chek Lap Kok. This portion of the Airport Express was opened from 20 Dec 2005.

[edit] Bus

Numerous city bus services are provided between the airport and most of the city, both by Citybus, New Lantao Bus, Long Win Bus and Discovery Bay Bus (DB02R) from both the Airport Ground Transportation Centre and Cheong Tat Road.

In the various bus terminals in the City, bus routes that goes to the Airport are marked with the letter "A" or "E" on the route number. No matter where you are located in Hong Kong, any bus that starts with an "A" or an "E" on Citybus' CityFlyers or Long Win Bus' Airbus means that it goes to the airport, except routes E21A, E21X and E31. Some of the buses are also marked with a special orange color. These buses are also specially designed to carry large amounts of luggage. You can also take S1, S56 or S64 from Tung Chung to the Airport.

Since the Airport opens 24 hours a day, there are several "N" routes to and from the Airport between midnight to 0530. These "N" routes are N11, N21, N21A, N23, N26, N29, N30, N31, N35, N42 and N42A.

Coach service is available to major cities and towns in Guangdong, such as Shenzhen, Dongguan and Guangzhou.

[edit] Ferry

Direct ferry services are available from the airport to various destinations throughout the Pearl River Delta. Passengers using these services are treated as transit passengers and are not considered to have entered Hong Kong for immigration purposes. Check-in services are available at these piers. Four ports – Shekou, Shenzhen, Macau and Humen (Dongguan) – were initially served, extending to Zhuhai, Guangzhou and Zhongshan at the end of 2003.
However, at this moment, these services are available to air passengers only.

[edit] Taxi

Main article: Taxicabs of Hong Kong

The airport is served by three different sorts of taxi, distinguished by their colour:

  • Urban taxis (red) connect the Airport with Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and parts of the new towns of Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin and Tseung Kwan O. (Urban taxis can reach entire Hong Kong except southern Lantau Island).
  • New Territories taxis (green) connect the airport with the New Territories, excepting those parts of the Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin and Tseung Kwan O served by urban taxis.
  • Lantau taxis (blue) connect the airport with the rest of Lantau Island.

You will be charged extra if you require to go through any tunnels or bridges. The extra charge acts as a maintenance fee for the tunnels and bridges of Hong Kong.

[edit] Accidents and incidents

  • On 15 July 2006, Virgin Atlantic Airways Flight 201 suffered damage during take off because of a tailstrike and was forced to dump fuel in Hong Kong airspace and return to the airport for repairs.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Airport Star Ranking - 4 Star Airports. Skytrax (2007). Retrieved on 2007-03-30.
  2. ^ Plant,G.W.; Covil,C.S; Hughes,R.A. (1999). Site Preparation for the New Hong Kong International Airport. American Society of Civil Engineers. ISBN 0-7277-2696-X. 
  3. ^ CONEXPO-CON/AGG '99 (1999). Top 10 Construction Achievements of the 20th Century. ISBN 0-9530219-5-5. Retrieved November 10, 2005.
  4. ^ http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/aboutus/scbrochure.html
  5. ^ http://mtr.com.hk/eng/corporate/file_rep/PR-07-012-E.pdf Press release of platform 3 opening

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