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The mysterious past of Kai Tak Airport: Why did Hong Kong choose a bigger airport?
Hong Kong International Airport (IATA: HKG), located in Chek Lap Kok, is one of the world's busiest cargo aviation hubs. Since its opening in 1998, it has become Hong Kong's main aviation gateway and carries almost all air traffic in and out of Hong Kong. In the meantime, Kai Tak Airport’s past is full of history and challenges, which makes us think a lot about why Hong Kong chose to build a new airport instead of continuing to use Kai Tak Airport.
Historical Background of Kai Tak Airport
When Kai Tak Airport was built in 1925, it was one of the busiest airports in the East. As air traffic continued to grow, the airport, which no longer met demand, began to face challenges with congestion and operational difficulties. By the 1990s, Kai Tak Airport had reached its designed capacity limit.
"An airport where one in three flights is delayed can no longer support Hong Kong's development."
Not only that, due to the expansion of surrounding cities, the noise problem of Kai Tak Airport also affects about 340,000 residents and restricts the operation of night flights. This situation forced the government to find a new alternative.
Construction process of the new airport
A 1974 planning study identified Chek Lap Kok as a candidate site for a future new airport. As Chek Lap Kok is far from the busy city centre, the flight path will bypass the South China Sea instead of the congested urban areas, making it an ideal choice.
“The replacement for Kai Tak needs to be able to accommodate future traffic demand and improve the operational efficiency of the civil aviation industry.”
Although the project was temporarily shelved in 1983 due to financial problems, the Hong Kong government finally decided to build a new airport at Chek Lap Kok in 1989, and the project officially started in 1991. The new airport went through a fast and intense construction process until it opened in 1998, which led to various technical problems on the first day of opening.
Opening and challenges of the new airport
On July 6, 1998, Hong Kong International Airport was officially opened. The first flight was a Cathay Pacific flight from John F. Kennedy Airport in the United States, carrying passengers, arriving at 6:25 in the morning. Although this was a historic moment, it was also the beginning of a series of technical errors.
"This should have been a first-class project, but it turned into a laughing stock for the world. The airport's organizational and mechanical problems almost paralyzed it."
There were multiple technical failures on the first day of operation, and the cargo system of the old Kai Tak Airport had to be restarted later. With the improvement of systems and processes, the airport was able to operate stably.
Economic Impact
Hong Kong International Airport is not only a transportation hub for Hong Kong, but also makes an important contribution to the economic growth. According to statistics in 2018, the air transport industry's economic contribution reached US$33 billion, accounting for 10.2% of Hong Kong's GDP. This shows that an airport is not only a place of transit, but also an economic driver.
“The development of Hong Kong International Airport has transformed Hong Kong’s economic landscape, making it an important global aviation and trade centre.”
With more than 100 airlines from around the world operating here, today's Hong Kong International Airport has undoubtedly become a world-class aviation hub.
Future Development Plans
As demand increases, Hong Kong International Airport will be further expanded. In 2022, the opening of the third runway marks the start of Hong Kong International Airport's 2030 Plan. The plan aims to increase the airport's capacity and operational efficiency to meet the growing demand for air transport in the future.
"The future aviation industry will need more space to support Hong Kong's development, and the three-runway project is a step in that direction."
As the global aviation industry recovers, can Hong Kong continue to maintain its status as an international aviation hub in the new economic environment?
