Latest news with #HongKongInternationalAirport
Time Out
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
2025 Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races
The Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races are back. Taking place on June 7 and 8, the two-day event will feature a total of 19 races with over 190 teams from 12 different countries and regions. The races start from 8am on both days, and if you want to see the adrenaline-pumping action on the waters, be sure to head to areas stretching from the Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade (outside the Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong) to the Bruce Lee Statue located on the Avenue of Stars. Seating with shade will also be provided. Don't forget to grab yourself a cold one from the Beer Garden at the Urban Centenary Garden in TST East, where a dedicated zone will be screening live broadcasts of the races. There are four refreshing varieties available, and you can even get a draught beer on the house by redeeming a beer voucher at from the HKTB Visitor Centres at the Hong Kong International Airport, TST Star Ferry Pier, and Hong Kong West Kowloon Stations, or the beer voucher collection station on the East TST Promenade. Vouchers are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, so don't miss out! To get everyone into the festive spirit, a Dragon Boat Food Lane will take over the Avenue of Stars from May 31 to June 8, featuring 10 food stalls offering bites like traditional rice dumplings, dragon boat-themed street snacks, and refreshing summer drinks. Ocean Park Hong Kong's adorable Panda Friends will also be making an appearance by the waterfront, along with a special pop-up store with a selection of panda-themed merchandise. Visitors who make purchases at the food lane stalls will also receive a complimentary panda-themed sticker pack containing two designs from a collection of 10 (available while stocks last).
HKFP
3 days ago
- Business
- HKFP
Hong Kong's legislature passes bill to increase airport departure tax to HK$200, effective from Oct 1
Hong Kong's airport departure tax will increase to HK$200 starting from October 1, after lawmakers passed a bill on Wednesday to green light the raise. Out of 84 lawmakers who took part in the vote on the Air Passenger Departure Tax (Amendment) Bill 2025, 77 voted in favour. Two lawmakers voted against the bill while five abstained. The increase will see the city's airport departure tax for adults rise from the current HK$120 to HK$200, representing a 67 per cent hike. The tax is built into the cost of flight tickets, and those purchased before October 1 will not be affected. Joseph Chan, the acting secretary for financial services and the treasury, said in the Legislative Council on Wednesday that the tax hike is expected to bring the government an additional revenue of around HK$1.6 billion. He acknowledged that some lawmakers had expressed worry that the increase would weaken the competitiveness of the Hong Kong International Airport, but said the government has already struck a balance between increasing revenue and reducing the impact on passengers. The official added that the airport departure tax has not been increased in 22 years, and that the government believes a raise of HK$80 was affordable. Perry Yiu, a lawmaker for the tourism sector, was one of the two who voted against the bill. He criticised the government for rejecting the industry's proposal for a phased tax increase and halving the raise, adding that the higher tax would negatively affect the economy's recovery. Gary Zhang, a legislator who also voted down the bill, said the government did not provide a scientific analysis into the impact of the tax raise on different groups of passengers, especially those preferring budget airlines. Exemptions expanded Currently, passengers who arrive and depart Hong Kong within the same day are exempted from the airport departure tax. Chan said authorities are planning to extend the exemption to those departing within the next day, meaning those who stay in the city for less than 48 hours would not have to pay the tax, following lawmakers' suggestions. The government also plans to exempt those transiting through the airport after arriving via land or sea ports, a move to attract more passengers from the Greater Bay Area, Chan said. He said the government is drafting relevant subsidiary legislation and will submit it to the legislature 'as soon as possible' to allow the two exemptions to be implemented on October 1. 'I would like to emphasise that the two exemptions… are expected to significantly enhance the competitiveness of the Hong Kong International Airport for transit passengers, and these transit travellers will also drive… the hotel, dining, and retail sectors in Hong Kong,' Chan said in Cantonese.
HKFP
5 days ago
- Business
- HKFP
Hong Kong airport's Terminal Two check-in counters set to reopen in March 2026
Check-in counters at Hong Kong International Airport's Terminal Two will reopen as early as March next year, the Airport Authority has announced. Airport Authority Chief Executive Officer Vivian Cheung said on Monday that the renovation work for Terminal Two was largely completed and that around a dozen airlines would be moving their check-in counters from Terminal One to Terminal Two starting in March. They include Hong Kong Express, Hong Kong Airlines, and Greater Bay Airlines, as well as other budget air carriers primarily running short-haul routes to places such as mainland China, Thailand and Japan. But in the first year, after checking in, passengers will still have to take the train to Terminal One to board their flights. The Terminal Two departure hall is expected to open in 2027. Terminal Two has been closed since 2019 due to construction work for the airport's third runway. It previously housed check-in counters mainly for budget airlines. The newly expanded facility – which cost HK$12.9 billion to build – will open in phases. First to start operations will be the terminal's coach hall, with 41 parking spaces for tour buses, cross-border buses, and other vehicles, set for late September. Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub was hit hard during Covid-19, when strict restrictions brought travel to a halt. Earlier this month, the Airport Authority said passenger traffic marked a 'new post-pandemic high' during the Easter holidays. The airport handled 5.19 million passengers, a year-on-year growth of more than 20 per cent, in April, the authority said.
The Star
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Terminal 5 a game changer for Singapore aviation, but Changi must keep moving to beat rival airports
SINGAPORE: In June 1975, a major national project got under way to reclaim land for a new international airport in Changi. It was a bold move that would eventually cement Singapore's position as a key aviation hub. Some 50 years later, the airport has marked yet another significant milestone – one that is no less bold or ambitious. On May 14, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong broke ground on Changi Airport's fifth terminal, which will be as big as Terminals 1 to 4 combined. 'Like our forefathers who chose to build Changi, we dare to dream big and aim high today,' PM Wong said at a ceremony to mark the start of construction on Terminal 5 (T5), which will open in the mid-2030s. He described the mega terminal as a 'bold move' to keep Changi ahead amid intensifying competition from other airports and an uncertain global economy. A bold move it surely is. Nearly 12 years in the making, T5 will be a long-awaited but much-needed boost to Singapore's aviation industry – a major employer and driver of the economy that also powers other sectors such as tourism and logistics. The new terminal will allow Changi to serve 140 million passengers yearly, over 55 per cent more than its present capacity of 90 million. It will put Changi in the league of 'mega airports' – those able to handle more than 100 million passengers a year. The investment is timely. Competition from other regional air hubs cannot be ignored. These hubs in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East are similarly expanding, with some projects expected to wrap up ahead of Changi's T5. Hong Kong International Airport, for instance, will be able to handle 120 million passengers yearly with its third runway, which opened in November 2024, and an expanded Terminal 2, slated to be operational in late 2025. This will allow the airport to capitalise on passenger and cargo demand into mainland China. Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport is building a fourth runway and a new South Terminal by 2033, which will take its annual handling capacity to 150 million. In the Middle East, Dubai is building what it describes as the world's largest airport terminal. The first phase of the project at Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport – which will replace its existing international airport – will allow it to handle 150 million passengers yearly by 2032, with capacity climbing eventually to 260 million. About 30 airports in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East have committed US$240 billion (S$311 billion) in the next decade to upgrade existing facilities and build new ones, according to Airports Council International. The Asia-Pacific air passenger market is already the world's biggest, accounting for over a third of travel, and passenger numbers are expected to double in the 2040s. It is, therefore, vital for Changi to stay ahead of the curve and ride this growth. On the surface, Singapore may appear to be lagging behind some airports in executing its expansion plans. Experts, however, concur that its strategy is prudent and deliberate, with an eye on long-term sustainability. When the Covid-19 pandemic slammed the brakes on Changi's planned expansion for two years from 2020 to 2022, it gave the team a critical opportunity to review the terminal's design, drawing lessons from the global health crisis. It was back to the drawing board to design a pandemic-proof terminal, should the next health crisis hit. This would include ensuring that if needed, T5 could operate as smaller sub-terminals. This would allow spaces to be converted into testing facilities or for the segregation of high-risk passengers during outbreaks. While other airports continued expanding during the pandemic or resumed plans more quickly, Changi's pause was 'not a delay in ambition, but a reflection of Singapore's rigorous planning approach', said Mayur Patel, Asia head at consultancy OAG Aviation. 'The result is a future-ready terminal that integrates lessons from the pandemic.' Mabel Kwan, managing director at Alton Aviation Consultancy, agreed, saying it was prudent for Changi to take stock of how air traffic patterns have changed post-Covid-19, and make critical adjustments to T5's design. 'Going forward, there will be more, instead of fewer, disruptions,' she said, adding that the pause was a 'necessary step' for longer-term growth. Patel added that although the 10-year construction schedule may seem long, it aligns with projected air traffic demand over the next decade. While air travel demand in the region is expected to be strong, he added that the global supply chain glut that is delaying aircraft deliveries will likely last at least five more years, hampering capacity growth for airlines. Between now and T5's opening, Changi needs to focus on areas such as building airline partnerships, bringing in new routes and investing in digital innovation to maintain its status as a leading air hub, he added. Another noteworthy move that the scale of T5 will enable is the consolidation of the national carrier's operations. T5 will be the new home of Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its budget arm Scoot – a logical and long overdue move that will bring what is now an operation scattered across Terminals 1 to 3 under one roof. Kwan said transfers between flights operated by SIA from T2 and T3 and those by Scoot, which is based in T1, are now operationally more challenging. Significantly, said Patel, this move to house SIA and Scoot at T5 will offer a more seamless transfer experience for passengers, particularly those with itineraries involving both carriers. It will also reduce minimum connecting times, allowing Changi to offer better connectivity for transfer passengers and improving its attractiveness as a hub. T5 sits within the 1,080ha Changi East, which also houses Changi's third runway. The runway is estimated to start operations in the last quarter of 2027, The Straits Times reported in April. It is this three-runway system that will keep Changi competitive, said independent aviation analyst Brendan Sobie of Sobie Aviation. With three runways operational before T5 opens, the biggest challenge in relation to capacity will be resolved, given the present slot constraints with two runways. 'The third runway should allow full utilisation of the current terminals – although increased use of bus gates is likely – in the interim,' Sobie added. There is much to do and much to look forward to. But with expansion being a constant for many large air hubs, the question is, what's next for Changi beyond T5? Space, Kwan said, may no longer be the deciding factor at that point. With automation and technology being integral to the running of future airports, she said it will come down to how Changi leverages technology to continually improve the efficiency of airport operations. 'The dimension to growth is not simply space,' she noted. When ready, T5 will be extensively automated, with the terminal expected to leverage everything from baggage robots to video analytics and artificial intelligence to predict potential flight delays. There is no doubt that the mega terminal will bring benefits to Singapore's aviation industry and economy, and Singaporeans by way of new jobs and opportunities. The competition for flights and passengers will only continue to intensify. To stay ahead of the game, Changi cannot and must not stand still. It's time to think of the next lap. - The Straits Times/ANN
New Paper
16-05-2025
- Business
- New Paper
T5 a game changer for S'pore aviation, but Changi must keep moving to beat rival airports
In June 1975, a major national project got under way to reclaim land for a new international airport in Changi. It was a bold move that would eventually cement Singapore's position as a key aviation hub. Some 50 years later, the airport has marked yet another significant milestone - one that is no less bold or ambitious. On May 14, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong broke ground on Changi Airport's fifth terminal, which will be as big as Terminals 1 to 4 combined. "Like our forefathers who chose to build Changi, we dare to dream big and aim high today," PM Wong said at a ceremony to mark the start of construction on Terminal 5 (T5), which will open in the mid-2030s. He described the mega terminal as a "bold move" to keep Changi ahead amid intensifying competition from other airports and an uncertain global economy. A bold move it surely is. Nearly 12 years in the making, T5 will be a long-awaited but much-needed boost to Singapore's aviation industry - a major employer and driver of the economy that also powers other sectors such as tourism and logistics. The new terminal will allow Changi to serve 140 million passengers yearly, over 55 per cent more than its present capacity of 90 million. It will put Changi in the league of "mega airports" - those able to handle more than 100 million passengers a year. The investment is timely. Competition from other regional air hubs cannot be ignored. These hubs in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East are similarly expanding, with some projects expected to wrap up ahead of Changi's T5. Hong Kong International Airport, for instance, will be able to handle 120 million passengers yearly with its third runway, which opened in November 2024, and an expanded Terminal 2, slated to be operational in late 2025. This will allow the airport to capitalise on passenger and cargo demand into mainland China. Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport is building a fourth runway and a new South Terminal by 2033, which will take its annual handling capacity to 150 million. In the Middle East, Dubai is building what it describes as the world's largest airport terminal. The first phase of the project at Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport - which will replace its existing international airport - will allow it to handle 150 million passengers yearly by 2032, with capacity climbing eventually to 260 million. About 30 airports in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East have committed US$240 billion (S$311 billion) in the next decade to upgrade existing facilities and build new ones, according to Airports Council International. The Asia-Pacific air passenger market is already the world's biggest, accounting for over a third of travel, and passenger numbers are expected to double in the 2040s. It is, therefore, vital for Changi to stay ahead of the curve and ride this growth. On the surface, Singapore may appear to be lagging behind some airports in executing its expansion plans. Experts, however, concur that its strategy is prudent and deliberate, with an eye on long-term sustainability. When the Covid-19 pandemic slammed the brakes on Changi's planned expansion for two years from 2020 to 2022, it gave the team a critical opportunity to review the terminal's design, drawing lessons from the global health crisis. It was back to the drawing board to design a pandemic-proof terminal, should the next health crisis hit. This would include ensuring that if needed, T5 could operate as smaller sub-terminals. This would allow spaces to be converted into testing facilities or for the segregation of high-risk passengers during outbreaks. While other airports continued expanding during the pandemic or resumed plans more quickly, Changi's pause was "not a delay in ambition, but a reflection of Singapore's rigorous planning approach", said Mr Mayur Patel, Asia head at consultancy OAG Aviation. "The result is a future-ready terminal that integrates lessons from the pandemic." Ms Mabel Kwan, managing director at Alton Aviation Consultancy, agreed, saying it was prudent for Changi to take stock of how air traffic patterns have changed post-Covid-19, and make critical adjustments to T5's design. "Going forward, there will be more, instead of fewer, disruptions," she said, adding that the pause was a "necessary step" for longer-term growth. Mr Patel added that although the 10-year construction schedule may seem long, it aligns with projected air traffic demand over the next decade. While air travel demand in the region is expected to be strong, he added that the global supply chain glut that is delaying aircraft deliveries will likely last at least five more years, hampering capacity growth for airlines. Between now and T5's opening, Changi needs to focus on areas such as building airline partnerships, bringing in new routes and investing in digital innovation to maintain its status as a leading air hub, he added. Another noteworthy move that the scale of T5 will enable is the consolidation of the national carrier's operations. T5 will be the new home of Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its budget arm Scoot - a logical and long overdue move that will bring what is now an operation scattered across Terminals 1 to 3 under one roof. Ms Kwan said transfers between flights operated by SIA from T2 and T3 and those by Scoot, which is based in T1, are now operationally more challenging. Significantly, said Mr Patel, this move to house SIA and Scoot at T5 will offer a more seamless transfer experience for passengers, particularly those with itineraries involving both carriers. It will also reduce minimum connecting times, allowing Changi to offer better connectivity for transfer passengers and improving its attractiveness as a hub. T5 sits within the 1,080ha Changi East, which also houses Changi's third runway. The runway is estimated to start operations in the last quarter of 2027, The Straits Times reported in April. It is this three-runway system that will keep Changi competitive, said independent aviation analyst Brendan Sobie of Sobie Aviation. With three runways operational before T5 opens, the biggest challenge in relation to capacity will be resolved, given the present slot constraints with two runways. "The third runway should allow full utilisation of the current terminals - although increased use of bus gates is likely - in the interim," Mr Sobie added. There is much to do and much to look forward to. But with expansion being a constant for many large air hubs, the question is, what's next for Changi beyond T5? Space, Ms Kwan said, may no longer be the deciding factor at that point. With automation and technology being integral to the running of future airports, she said it will come down to how Changi leverages technology to continually improve the efficiency of airport operations. "The dimension to growth is not simply space," she noted. When ready, T5 will be extensively automated, with the terminal expected to leverage everything from baggage robots to video analytics and artificial intelligence to predict potential flight delays. There is no doubt that the mega terminal will bring benefits to Singapore's aviation industry and economy, and Singaporeans by way of new jobs and opportunities. The competition for flights and passengers will only continue to intensify. To stay ahead of the game, Changi cannot and must not stand still. It's time to think of the next lap.
