November 29, 2024 – Hongkongers can look forward to lower airfares as the city’s major airport inaugurates a new three-runway system that will significantly boost its capacity, a senior airport official said.
The HK$141 billion ($18 billion) three-runway system at Hong Kong International Airport went into operation on Thursday, a historic moment for the city’s aviation development, authorities announced.
The new system will enable the airport to handle up to 120 million passengers per year, up from the previous capacity of 72 million, as well as 10 million tonnes of cargo annually.
“Many airlines have applied to increase flight frequency after the launch of the three-runway system,” said Steven Yiu Siu-chung, the Airport Authority’s executive director of airport operations. “With increased supply, airfare will naturally go down.”
Yiu said the Airport Network Development Programme has received an enthusiastic response, with up to 26 airlines participating and opening new routes to 52 destinations, leading to an increase of 238 flights per week.
The airport authority is also optimistic that the expanded capacity will attract airlines that have never operated in Hong Kong before, such as new carriers from Indonesia, Malaysia, and other regions, to establish routes to and from the city.
“The Airport Authority will strive to attract regional airlines to Hong Kong, increase routes, and allow Hong Kong residents to fly directly to places that are usually difficult to reach,” Yiu said.
The three-runway system is set to cement Hong Kong’s status as a leading global aviation hub, providing a significant boost to the city’s economy and connectivity with the rest of the world.
