Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) today held the opening ceremony for its new Terminal 2, although the first flights won’t operate from its new Departure facilities until next Wednesday.
Fifteen airlines will begin to relocate their check-in services to T2 starting on May 27 when the departure facilities will be officially commissioned.
Speaking at today’s event attended by some 1,500 guests, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) chairman, Fred Lam, said: “The opening of T2 is another milestone of HKIA’s development. Positioned as a terminal for leisure travel, T2’s design prioritises efficiency and passenger comfort.
“We attend to every detail, leveraging technology extensively to enable efficient self check-in, self bag drop and smooth immigration clearance. We believe T2 would be popular among passengers, in particular young travellers.
“The airy interiors, the clean and floating lines of its streamline design make T2 a timeless architecture, while the dynamic and 3D contents on the LED panels around T2 create a vibe that generates a sense of excitement as passengers embark on their journeys.”
Spanning 300,000 square metres, T2 is designed and equipped to serve both departing and arriving passengers. T2’s Arrivals facilities are expected to commence operations next year, in line with traffic demand.
The departures hall of T2 features eight check-in aisles, P to W, with 68 express self-bag drop counters, 58 smart check-in kiosks and 108 hybrid check-in counters.
All self bag-drop counters and hybrid counters feature an ultra-low platform design that enables passengers to put their bags onto the conveyor belt with ease. The 20 e-Security Gates at the entrances to the restricted area are all embedded with facial recognition technology.
Michael Wong, Acting Financial Secretary for the HKSAR Government, noted: “The remarkable achievements of HKIA have been hard-earned, and we will continue to strive in the future.
“The government will continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach to strengthen HKIA’s position as an international aviation hub, including accelerating the expansion of the aviation network, enhancing intermodal connectivity with the Greater Bay Area, and advancing the development of the Airport City.
“In particular, we will proactively align with and work on the National 15th Five-Year Plan, and fully support Hong Kong’s role as an international aviation hub.”
In tandem with T2 opening on May 27, the minimum age for using facial recognition at e-Security Gates will be lowered from 11 to 7 in both Terminal 1 and T2.
Inside the restricted area, all 15 smart security screening channels at T2 allow passengers to keep their laptops and bottled liquid under 100ml in their carry-on luggage while undergoing screening. The Immigration Department has set up 35 e-Channels and 60 counters for departing passengers.
AAHK adds that large LED displays of different shapes and sizes are installed at different levels of T2, with 3D contents and ocean-themed videos to “create a vibrant atmosphere”. T
The food court at the departures hall serves passengers with eight catering outlets, four of which operate around the clock, while 12 shops offer a variety of products, including travel necessities and souvenirs.