Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is working on the next phase of its development, which includes studies on a new runway and passenger concourse to meet future demand for air travel from the island.
"In view of the buoyant Chinese economy, and Hong Kong's unique position both as a preferred gateway to the Mainland (China) and as an international and regional aviation centre, HKIA will launch its midfield expansion programme in phases," says the Airport Authority of Hong Kong.
In the first two phases, the Airport Authority of Hong Kong plans to increase the passenger capacity to 70 million and six million tonnes of cargo by 2010. This will cope with the projected increase in demand up to 2020, it says.
Detailed design has begun on the first phase, which includes a midfield concourse and an automated people mover that connects with the existing Terminal 1.
This entails building 20 parking stands, including 11 bridge-served stands and nine remote stands. Construction work is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2011 and scheduled to be completed by 2015, says the authority.
Under the second phase, the authority will convert nine remote stands constructed in phase one into bridge-served stands. It will also build another 10 remote stands to the west of the concourse. This will result in 20 bridge-served stands and 10 remote stands being available by 2020.
Further ahead, the HKIA Master Plan 2030 studies the engineering and environmental feasibility of a new runway and passenger concourse, and other related passenger and aircraft facilities, says the authority's CEO Stanley Hui.
"The master plan exercise also includes studies assessing traffic demand forecast and economic impact. We will consult the public and stakeholders in a public engagement process when the plan is completed," says Hui.
He adds that the authority will maintain the sustainability and competitiveness of HKIA through medium and long-term planning and development of the airport.
"We also look forward to the completion of major infrastructure projects, namely the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities, and Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link, which over time will greatly enhance the position of HKIA as a regional and international aviation centre, serving the economic development of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta," he says.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
