HK Airport's T2 opening starts with coach lounge

Hong Kong International Airport’s expanded Terminal 2 will begin phased operations next Tuesday, with the coach waiting lounge as the first facility to open, according to the Airport Authority.

The lounge features 41 parking bays for tour coaches, cross-boundary buses, cross-border limousines, and resident shuttle buses, Airport operations executive director Steven Yiu Siu-chung noted. 

In about six months, the departure level of Terminal 2 will also become operational, at which point check-in counters for some airlines will be relocated from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2.

Beginning at the end of this year, the existing Terminal 1 car park will be repurposed for use as pick-up and drop-off areas for pre-booked taxis, ride-hailing vehicles, and taxi fleets.

Also, Yiu said airport departure tax exemption scope expansion are to draw more transit passengers to make short stops in the city, giving a lift to tourism and retail.

The tax will be raised from HK$120 to HK$200 starting next month and travelers entering the city by land or sea and leaving through Hong Kong International Airport within two days will be eligible for a refund.

Passengers can apply for refunds within 28 days after departure through a new electronic platform by submitting three documents: proof of tax payment, the travel document used for entry, and their boarding pass. 

Refunds can be collected via credit card, e-wallet, or in cash at designated money changers at the airport.

Yiu said the refund process will be largely paperless.