Air traffic surging as full recovery appears 'imminent'

Air traffic could reach 80 percent of prepandemic levels this month and its full recovery is "imminent" next year, says Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun.

Passenger traffic at the Hong Kong International Airport had recovered to around 70 percent of prepandemic levels as of last month, Wong told the Asia Pacific Region Innovation and Capacity Building Symposium yesterday at AsiaWorld-Expo.

Wong said Airport Authority chief executive Fred Lam Tin-fuk told him he had full confidence the 80 percent goal could be reached over Christmas.

The authority and the Civil Aviation Department are working together to adopt innovative technologies, such as self-driving vehicles, "flight token" system using facial recognition for check-ins, allowing outbound passengers to go through customs without removing liquids and electronics from carry-on bags, digital apron management and air traffic control systems, he said.

Authority chair Jack So Chak-kwong said President Xi Jinping had earlier envisioned an "Air Silk Road," noting that the airport currently operates 40 destinations out of 220 in the Belt and Road Initiative region.

Hong Kong airport is strategically located to attract passengers and cargo, So said, and is connected to the Greater Bay Area through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and tunnel.

With the recent "Fly-via-Zhuhai-HK" arrangement, over 20 check-in counters have been set up in the GBA to allow residents to complete departure formalities before heading to the airport gates.

The arrangement was implemented on Tuesday as a new cross-boundary facilitation program between Hong Kong, Macau and mainland.

Passengers from the mainland can fly to Zhuhai airport and complete exit formalities. After a shuttle ride to the SkyPier Hong Kong airport they will not have to go through Hong Kong entry immigration procedures.

Similarly, international passengers arriving in Hong Kong can take the mega-bridge directly to Zhuhai airport and then to mainland cities.

The two-day symposium ending today is jointly organized by CAD, the Civil Aviation Administration of China and Hong Kong International Aviation Academy.

"This event shares the latest aviation technologies in Hong Kong with the public and provides a platform for business cooperation across industries, greatly promoting the development of Hong Kong's aviation industry," Wong said.

toby.ng@singtaonewscorp.com