(25th Anniversary of the Return of Hong Kong) Exploring the Third Runway of Hong Kong International Airport: From "City Airport" to "Airport City"
China News Agency, Hong Kong, June 25th: Exploring the Third Runway of Hong Kong International Airport: From "City Airport" to "Airport City"
China News Agency reporter Yang Chengchen Wang Shibo
Hong Kong experienced the June rainy season, and the basic construction of the third runway of the Hong Kong International Airport on Lantau Island has been completed.
The runway is 3,800 meters long and 60 meters wide. After it is put into operation, the passenger and cargo capacity of Hong Kong International Airport will be significantly improved.
In the face of media interviews, Lin Tianfu, chief executive of the Hong Kong International Airport Authority, stressed that to build Hong Kong into an "airport city", expansion is necessary.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Cui Nan
"We haven't seen so many people visiting the airport for a long time." Faced with a long-lost media interview, Lin Tianfu, chief executive of the Hong Kong International Airport Authority, stressed that to build Hong Kong into an "airport city", expansion is necessary.
"The third runway will play a key role in the construction of an 'airport city'. Before the epidemic, we handled about 75 million passengers, people, and 5 million tons of cargo each year, which is the limit of the two runways. After adding a runway, we are confident that we can handle 120 million people and 10 million tons of cargo," Lin Tianfu told reporters.
The picture shows the video playback equipment set up in the terminal building to create a simulated landscape for waiting passengers.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Cui Nan
When the Hong Kong International Airport opened in July 1998, passenger traffic was only 28 million per year.
After more than 20 years of development, Hong Kong International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world.
Since 2010, the airport's cargo volume has ranked first in the world for seven consecutive years.
Today's Hong Kong International Airport serves about 120 airlines around the world.
Even though the number of passengers has declined in recent years due to the impact of the new crown epidemic, the cargo volume of Hong Kong International Airport will rise to 5 million tons in 2021, surpassing the 4.8 million tons before the outbreak, and the number of cargo aircraft taking off and landing has reached a record high.
Before the new crown epidemic, from airport restaurants and shops to various airlines around the world, Hong Kong International Airport generated huge amounts of data every year.
In order to unearth treasures in a large amount of data, Hong Kong Airport has upgraded its data-led operation and management model to build a more "smart" airport.
From "city airport" to "airport city", the construction of Hong Kong International Airport Space City reflects Hong Kong's innovative spirit.
The picture shows the disinfecting robot working in the airport terminal.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Cui Nan
In the airport terminal, reporters from China News Agency saw that multi-functional robots shuttle back and forth, and the application of face-swiping technology is realized. The third runway system is an important project for Hong Kong to transform into an "airport city" vision.
In the project planning, in addition to the addition of runways, the airport facilities will also be fully upgraded, and an efficient and smooth smart airport is being formed.
Leung King-ran, Executive Director of the Three-Runway Project of the Airport Authority Hong Kong, revealed that the third runway is planned to be put into operation after the middle of this year, in line with the decision of the SAR government and under conditions.
The well-connected cross-border transport links make Hong Kong International Airport one of the most important aviation hubs in the world.
The continuous construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has led to rising demand for passenger and cargo in the region. Hong Kong International Airport is launching a series of new projects to make cross-border transportation more efficient and faster.
"'Airport City' is the intersection of Hong Kong's integration into the Greater Bay Area. Hong Kong International Airport is not only an airport in Hong Kong, but also an international airport belonging to the Greater Bay Area, which will serve the entire country." Lam Tin Fook said that Hong Kong International Airport is working with Cooperation with many mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area, such as Dongguan, Zhuhai, etc.
After the airport is expanded, it will play a positive role in driving the domestic demand market or driving more investors to the mainland.
The picture shows the staff demonstrating the "face brushing pit stop" device in the terminal building.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Cui Nan
At the end of 2017, the Hong Kong SAR government announced the smart city blueprint for Hong Kong, with the goal of building a world-leading smart city within five years.
Airports are an important part of the smart city blueprint. The Hong Kong Airport Authority's 2019 report "From "City Airports" to "Airport Cities" proposed that the concept of "airport cities" should not only include infrastructure development, airports and surrounding businesses The integration of activities, with the fundamental change of technology to the aviation industry and the travel habits of passengers, the "airport city" should become a platform that caters to the development of technology.
Looking back on the development of Hong Kong since its return to the motherland 25 years ago, Lin Tianfu believes that Hong Kong is backed by the motherland and progresses together with the motherland.
The 14th Five-Year Plan outline clearly states that Hong Kong will be supported in enhancing its status as an international aviation hub.
He is full of confidence in the future development of Hong Kong's aviation industry.
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