It's lift-off for third-runway system

Marcus Lum

Today marks the official launch of the three-runway system at Hong Kong International Airport, with a ceremony attended by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung.

The Airport Authority projects that the new system will enable the airport to handle up to 120 million passengers and 10 million tonnes of cargo annually within the next decade.

Lawmaker Rock Chen Chung-nin, who also serves on the Airport Authority board, indicated that discussions are underway with airlines and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative to "relax restrictions" in air traffic agreements, allowing greater access to the city's airspace and enhancing Hong Kong's aviation network.

Chen said: "Our top priority is to return to the pre-Covid level of 70 million passengers per year, which we believe can be achieved by the end of next year."

He also mentioned the potential for collaboration with Zhuhai International Airport to facilitate more long-haul travel to international destinations.

Law Cheung-kwok, a senior adviser at the Chinese University's Aviation Policy and Research Centre, said the importance of attracting more low-cost airlines to appeal to foreign travelers. He said that numerous low-cost carriers had shown interest in operating at the HKIA prior to the pandemic, but the existing two-runway system was at capacity.

"With the introduction of the three-runway system, we can accommodate more low-cost airlines, potentially increasing their market share from the current 10 percent to as much as 30 percent, similar to levels seen in some Asian countries," Law said.

He added that other airports in the Greater Bay Area already operate three or four runways, suggesting that Hong Kong needs to position itself within this competitive landscape.

Law also advocated for increased cooperation with mainland airports to better serve travelers nationwide. Wilson Kwong Wing-tsuen, chief executive of Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited, said that the new runway system will lead to an increase in aircraft movements.

He expects more cargo to be transshipped through Hong Kong to the mainland, which should eventually lower costs.

However, Kwong acknowledged that geopolitics, particularly the impact of additional tariffs imposed on China by the United States, could affect global trade in the short term.

Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic about the future of HKIA.