Hong Kong airport celebrates centennial development with special exhibition

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has launched a special exhibition in the arrival hall to celebrate its centennial development, showcasing the airport's evolution and SKYTOPIA -- the future blueprint for the Airport City.

Open to the public until November, the "Centennial Exhibition of Hong Kong Airport Development" presents the century-long journey and historical milestones of the airport in three chapters and features a wide range of artifacts from various eras.

The first chapter -- "First Ascent: The Early Years of Hong Kong International Airport" -- records the early years between 1925 and 1970 by tracing the airport's transformation from a simple stretch of land into Kai Tak Airport. 

The second chapter -- "From Crowded Skies to New Horizons" - highlights the airport's milestones from 1970 to 1998. That included the golden era of Kai Tak Airport, which was one of the busiest airports in the world in 1986, as well as the historic relocation of the airport to Chek Lap Kok in 1998.

The final chapter -- "A City Beyond the Airport" -- presents HKIA's evolution from 1998 to 2025 as it secured its position as a leading international aviation hub supported by world-class infrastructure along with an extensive air network. 

The airport is also developing into a world-class airport city destination to draw travelers and businesses from around the globe. 

Vivian Cheung Kar-fay, Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Authority, emphasized that the centennial celebration marks a historic milestone for the airport, and pledged to set new standards in connectivity, sustainability, and innovation in its future development.

"We are transforming our airport into a world-class destination — integrating commerce, pop culture, art, and premium entertainment and leisure experiences," she added.

She also noted that the city will host the Routes World 2025 event, known as the "Olympics of the aviation industry", next Wednesday (Sep 24), attracting over 2,500 participants from more than 115 countries.

Speaking at the ceremony, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan remarked that the development of Hong Kong's airports has mirrored the city's transformation.

She said the government will continue to work with Airport Authority to expand the aviation network and develop the intermodal connectivity for the Greater Bay Area. "This will ensure that HKIA remains the preferred airport for passengers and cargo from the Greater Bay Area to and from overseas, fully leveraging its role as a leading international aviation hub and ensuring it continues to shine for the next century."

HKIA has connected over 210 destinations, served more than 53.1 million passengers and handled over 4.9 million metric tons of cargo annually, ranking among the world's leading airports in both passenger and cargo traffic.