Terminal 1 Enhancement Projects Increase Capacity and Bring New Experience

(HONG KONG, 20 June 2017)  –  Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) today unveiled a series of major enhancements of existing airport facilities to increase handling capacity and provide a vibrant new experience for passengers at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

Fred Lam, Chief Executive Officer of the AA, said, “The enhancement projects for Terminal 1, together with the Three-runway System in 2024, will increase the airport’s handling capacity, as well as bringing a fresh look and feel. Passengers from around the world will enjoy an experience tantamount to travelling through a new airport.”

Passengers will enjoy a more spacious Terminal 1 following expansion works to the north of the existing building, facing Car Park 4. Over 40 new check-in counters with self-bag drop facilities and two new additional baggage reclaim carousels will be installed. The project will also provide more seats, shops and catering outlets in the expanded Arrivals Hall on the landside.

The enhancement projects also include an extension building adjacent to the existing Car Park 4 to provide approximately 1,400 additional parking spaces, as well as premises for the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy and HKIA Preschool. The new building will also house other staff-related facilities including a community centre, a multi-purpose sports hall and fitness centre, and staff canteens for the airport community.

The AA is also planning to build a weather-proof footbridge connecting Terminal 1 and the North Satellite Concourse, known as “Sky Bridge”, which will reduce passengers’ travelling time and the need for using shuttle buses. Rising 28 metres above ground, Sky Bridge will allow the largest A380 aircrafts to taxi underneath. The 200-metre long footbridge with travelators will feature an observation deck and catering outlets in the towers at both sides, providing scenic spots and relaxation spaces for passengers.

Meanwhile, new features in the expanded East Hall of Terminal 1 will include a roof garden and a children play area that spans two levels in the restricted area. There will also be a dedicated recreational zone featuring new technologies for travellers. On the other side of the expanded East Hall, passengers will be able to relax in green, open-air spaces in a new outdoor garden. The AA is also studying the look and feel of the boarding gate areas at Terminal 1 and considering introducing various themed areas to provide new experiences for passengers at the gates.

Ongoing enhancements of the airport dining and shopping experiences include the refurbishment of the main food halls in the restricted area and the opening of new anchor retail shops. The food hall in the East Hall area will be revamped with a new design for the comfort and enjoyment of passengers. New anchor duty-free shops for liquor, cosmetics and accessories will be open for business soon, presenting novel experiential concepts such as interactive zones and a whisky bar. 

The enhancement projects will be completed in phases in the coming few years.Budget for the main projects is amounted to about HK$7 billion, with final completion scheduled for 2020.