The chaotic Chek Lap Kok opening exceeded any worst-case scenario, the airport's head said yesterday.
Airport Authority chief executive Dr Hank Townsend said contingency plans for failed computer systems could not prevent the missed flights and lost baggage on July 6.
On his third day of testimony before the Commission of Inquiry on the New Airport, Dr Townsend admitted no global risk assessment was made for the opening and that no one was assigned to carry one out.
He said the authority had no idea before the chaos that several small problems could snowball into a severe breakdown in services.
'We did not have any indication [the problems] would go to the extent it did - it exceeded our vision . . . it was worse than a worst-case scenario,' he said.
Dr Townsend said the authority had only prepared for problems with individual systems in 'stressed conditions'. He said it was the cumulative effect of their breakdowns which led to severe disruptions to flight information, baggage handling and cargo services.
Benjamin Yu SC, counsel assisting the commission, asked why Dr Townsend, as the man responsible for the airport, had not commissioned a risk assessment.