Hong Kong airport’s new third runway takes step closer to operational status
- Planes to use new third runway in run-up to its opening in 2024
- Aircraft to take off and land on the new runway from next Friday
Hong Kong airport’s long-awaited third runway will open to planes for “operation familiarisation” drills from next week in preparation for its launch into service in 2024.
The Airport Authority Hong Kong said on Saturday that aircraft would take off and land on the new runway from next Friday to “allow local and overseas stakeholders of the aviation community to familiarise with the related operating procedures and collaborative arrangements in an orderly manner”.
Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the former Hong Kong chief executive, argued the third runway would play an important role in the integration of the city into the nation’s 14th five-year plan and maintain its status as international aviation hub.
The completion of the third runway, which could handle 30 million extra passengers per year, could also come as the city climbs out of the Covid-19 pandemic which battered the aviation industry.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board said there were just 4,692 visitor arrivals in April, down 17.8 per cent on last year.
The first four months of the year saw 16,182 travellers, a 27.3 per cent drop compared with the same period in 2021.