The opening of an expanded second passenger terminal at Hong Kong International Airport has rightly been hailed as a milestone in the city’s journey to bolster its role as a global aviation hub. It was encouraging to see praise from passengers using Terminal 2 on its first full day of operations yesterday. Operators must now remain agile in planning further enhancements to ensure the facility remains world-class.
The opening marks the official completion of the airport’s HK$141.5 billion (US$18.1 billion) three-runway system upgrade aimed at expanding capacity and improving efficiency amid strong regional competition. Closed in 2019 for reconfiguration, the terminal is now set to handle about 8 million passenger trips in its first year back. Ultimately, it can handle 30 million trips per year. It also helps Hong Kong align with China’s 15th five-year plan by leveraging unique Hong Kong strengths to serve the Greater Bay Area.
Hong Kong Airlines was the first carrier to use the newly upgraded terminal, which will accommodate 15 carriers moving in between Wednesday and June 10. Passengers have been impressed by its “one-stop-shop services”, including smart kiosks for check-ins and baggage tag printing, self-bag-drop counters and smartphone-enabled services. Travellers said they were pleased with the revamped terminal’s design and ease of check-in.
Other travellers struggled to find their way to the terminal after arriving by bus. All passengers also had to go to Terminal 1 for departure. Such issues should be straightforward to resolve. Terminal 2 will get its own departure concourse and gates when they are completed for use late next year.
One challenge will be the integration of the nearby 11 Skies retail and entertainment project, which the Airport Authority now manages. An ultimate goal is to make the airport itself a vibrant destination beyond its role as an air transit point – a draw successfully explored by competing aviation hubs including Singapore. Aviation sector dominance is a moving target and modernisation can help improve the city’s aim. Terminal 2 gives Hong Kong a powerful start, but further innovation will be needed to keep the city flying high.