HONG KONG, NOV 28 – Hong Kong began flight operations on its third runway today, with officials saying it will ensure the city’s airport remains competitive as an aviation hub despite a slow post-pandemic recovery.
Hong Kong International Airport is still one of the world’s busiest airports, but flight volumes have not returned to pre-Covid-19 levels and it has fallen behind regional rivals such as Singapore and South Korea in passenger traffic.
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee, said the airport’s capacity would “significantly increase” with the new runway.
The third runway is expected to enable the airport to handle 120 million passengers and 10 million tonnes of cargo annually by 2035, authorities said.
The HK$142 billion (US$18 billion) project has attracted attention due to its huge environmental impact, as well as controversy over labor disputes and corruption cases involving subcontractors.
Observers question whether the increased capacity will be able to be fully utilized, given that tourist arrivals are still low compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Hong Kong’s airline, Cathay Pacific, said this week that it will reach 100 percent of pre-pandemic flights in January.
Lee said today that the upgraded airport will help Hong Kong improve ties with cities around China, as part of Beijing’s development plan for the region.
Part of the expanded passenger building associated with the third runway is expected to be operational by the end of 2025. – AFP
