15-04-2025
Memories of Kai Tak, Hong Kong's iconic airport, renowned for its dramatic landings
Explore the captivating history of Hong Kong's legendary Kai Tak Airport, famous for its challenging landings, thrilling flight path low over the Kowloon skyline and, of course, it's rather distinctive welcoming aroma for air travellers.
Advertisement
From its vibrant beginnings to its closure in 1998, delve into unforgettable memories, pioneering flights, and the airport's lasting impact on the city and its residents.
When Kai Tak Airport closed after 73 years of operation it had become an icon of the city and a civic treasure renowned worldwide for its challenging landings. Revisit the airport's vibrant history, its impact on the residents of Kowloon living directly under its approach path, and the unforgettable experiences of passengers and pilots.
Hong Kong's Kai Tak Airport was renowned for its thrilling landings and its dramatic approaches over Kowloon. But it was also a place where local kids gathered to do their homework thanks to the ever-present air con, and one which greeted air travellers with a rather distinctive smell.
Discover the fascinating history of the first 'direct' flight from Hong Kong to London as reported by the South China Morning Post. The pioneering air service was not quite as direct as modern airlines would envisage the term as the flight took an epic 11 days, with stops in exotic locations such as Penang, Saigon, and Cairo.
The Kai Tak runway under construction in the mid-1950s. Picture: Dragages Hong Kong
A de Havilland Comet 4 in the livery of the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) was the first jet-engined aircraft to land at Kai Tak on September 11, 1958. Explore the runway's construction, its significance in Hong Kong's place in global aviation, and the iconic aircraft that landed there.
A Cathay Pacific Airways DC-3 took off at 8.30pm on July 18, 1959, in a landmark event that marked Hong Kong's first ever night flight. The short 20-minute trip carrying newsmen and assembled special guests was made possible by Kai Tak Airport's new runway lighting system.
Part of this article was produced with the assistance of generative AI
