Tuesday, September 10, 2024 A significant milestone in the readiness for the three-runway operation at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has been achieved with the successful completion of the flight check of the reconfigured Centre Runway. Commencing in August 2024, the flight check was a collaborative effort between Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), the Civil Aviation Department, and the Flight Inspection Center of the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The primary goal was to ensure that air navigation service equipment, flight procedures, and the airfield ground lighting system at the reconfigured Centre Runway meet the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Since the commissioning of the North Runway in November 2022, the Centre Runway was temporarily closed for reconfiguration as part of the development of the Three-runway System (3RS). The reconfiguration included resurfacing the runway pavement to align with connecting taxiways, building new runway entry and exit taxiways, and constructing new wrap-around taxiways at both ends. AAHK aims to have all three runways operational before the end of the year, as planned.
The 3RS project will expand HKIA’s capacity to accommodate the projected air traffic demand of 120 million passengers and 10 million tonnes of cargo by 2035, solidifying HKIA’s status as a premier aviation hub in the region. At this pivotal moment for Hong Kong’s aviation industry, HKIA was once again honored at the World Travel Awards, where it was voted “Asia’s Leading Airport” for the fourth time since 2020 and “China’s Leading Airport” for the third consecutive year. The World Travel Awards recognize excellence across the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries and are globally acknowledged as a mark of distinction, with winners chosen by travel experts and passengers worldwide.
Vivian Cheung, Acting Chief Executive Officer of AAHK, said, “We are proud to be honoured as ‘Asia’s Leading Airport’ and ‘China’s Leading Airport’ once again amid intense competition in the region. These awards are recognitions of our steadfast commitment to providing passengers with quality service and an enjoyable journey, and to pushing the boundaries of innovation. With the commencement of the three-runway operation before the end of the year, HKIA will continue to enhance its competitiveness so as to consolidate its position as the preeminent aviation hub in Asia and gateway to the Mainland China market.
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