Lower airfares as three-runway system up and running, says airport chief

Hongkongers can expect lower airfares as the HK$141 billion three-runway system at Hong Kong airport is set to boost aircraft movement capacity, said Steven Yiu Siu-chung, the Airport Authority's executive director of airport operations.

The three-runway system at Hong Kong airport went into operation on Thursday, with authorities hailing it as a historic moment for the city's aviation development.

The new system boosts the airport's capacity to 120 million passengers per year, on top of 10 million tonnes of cargo.

Yiu said on Friday that many airlines have applied to increase flight frequency after the launch of the three-runway system, while the authority’s Airport Network Development Programme has received an enthusiastic response.

Up to 26 airlines have participated and opened new routes to 52 new destinations, allowing for an increase of 238 flights per week, he said, adding that with increased supply, airfare will naturally go down.

Meanwhile, Yiu believes that in the future, the Hong Kong airport will attract airlines that have never operated in the city, such as new airlines from Indonesia, Malaysia, and other places, to fly routes to and from Hong Kong.

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, said Yiu.