Air Quality
AAHK is committed to complying with statutory air quality standards and monitoring and controlling air emissions associated with airport operations.
As one of the world’s busiest airports, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) manages emissions from its daily operations through a range of policies, reduction measures and continuous monitoring, with the aim of minimising impact on the community and the surrounding environment.
Our Story
Air Quality Monitoring
Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has been monitoring the air quality at HKIA since 2004 and has made this information available on its website since 2012. The data helps to identify the most cost-effective policies and solutions to reduce emissions at HKIA and also provides useful insights into regional air quality. Ambient air quality at HKIA is monitored through two on-airport air quality monitoring stations and a control site on Sha Chau. Monitored air pollutants include nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), respirable suspended particulates (PM10), fine suspended particulates (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3). The average hourly concentrations are collected and disclosed in real-time to the public on our website.
In 2016, we upgraded our website to include hourly Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) information, which makes reference to the AQHI published by the HKSAR Government.
Air Quality Management
AAHK is committed to reducing air emissions that are under our direct control (e.g., emissions related to the AAHK's vehicles), and facilitating emissions reduction of airport business partners and aircraft at parking stands.
Auxiliary Power Units Ban
Aircraft at parking stands normally use their Auxiliary Power Units (APUs), which are small engines located at the rear of aircraft, to provide electrical power when the main engines are switched off. To reduce emissions from burning jet fuel, AAHK implemented an APU ban in December 2014 that controls the use of APUs at frontal stands. In order to meet the needs of parked aircraft for electrical power and cabin cooling, AAHK installed around 700 units each of fixed ground power (FGP) and pre-conditioned air (PCA) systems. AAHK worked closely with our airport business partners to organise trials and develop operational procedures for the transition prior to full implementation.
Clean Transportation
AAHK is committed to investing in clean transportation to reduce both greenhouse gas (GHG) and air emissions generated from its vehicle fleets.
Airside Vehicles Electrification
AAHK has been implementing an Airside Vehicle Electrification Programme since July 2013. Under Phase 1 of the programme, AAHK required all newly registered saloons operating in the Airport Restricted Area (ARA) to be electric vehicles (EVs). This phase was successfully completed with all saloon cars replaced with EVs by 2017. The second phase of the programme required the replacement of all airside private vehicles with a gross weight of less than 3 tonnes with electric models and this was fully completed in December 2023. Phase 3 of the programme commenced in January 2024, targeting the phasing out of the existing fleet of non-electric airside vans, mini-buses and buses.
AAHK has been actively supporting the transition to EVs by providing EV charging facilities on the apron. The network of EV chargers are planned to be increased to over 1,300 to support the Three-Runway System (3RS) operation by 2030. In addition, a Smart-to-Charge (STC) System has been installed on the airside, which has a built-in intelligence feature that allows it to supply electricity to multiple EVs more efficiently by monitoring the battery condition of each vehicle that is being charged. The STC System not only ensures sufficient charging facility and capacity could be provided for the expanding EV fleets at HKIA, but also helps to reduce the installation cost for new charging facilities.
Ground Services Equipment Pooling Scheme
In July 2018, AAHK rolled out the On-stand Ground Services Equipment (GSE) Pooling Scheme at the Midfield Apron as a resource-sharing initiative to unleash existing untapped capacity and create new capacity in the ramp handling process. This first phase, covering over 250 units of critical GSE, led to an improvement in air quality and reduction of GHG emissions at HKIA as 95% of the GSE are powered by electricity. The on-stand GSE provided include electric lower deck loaders, electric conveyor belt loaders, electric passenger steps and main deck loaders, etc.
Phase 2 of the GSE Pooling Scheme was completed at the apron area of Terminal 1 in February 2023. Phase 3 of the scheme will expand coverage to the future T2 Concourse apron. We plan to expand the number of electric GSE units in the Pooling Scheme to about 1,000 units ultimately upon full implementation of the scheme, supported by planned expansion of electric GSE (e-GSE) chargers.
Autonomous Transportation System
AAHK is taking forward the Airportcity Link (ACL) project, a purpose-built bridge that will feature a vehicular road and a pedestrian walkway to connect the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and SKYCITY. The ACL will be served by electric vehicles and ultimately an autonomous transportation system supported by zero-emission autonomous vehicles. In the next phase of development, the autonomous transportation system on the ACL will be extended from SKYCITY to the nearby Tung Chung town centre.
Air Quality Study with HKUST
Since 2007, AAHK has been working with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to analyse air quality data and study HKIA’s operational air quality impact. These studies have allowed AAHK to gain a better understanding of the air quality performance of different aspects of airport operations and facilitated the development of the above mentioned emissions reduction measures.
Quick Facts
2017
Since July 2017, all saloon vehicles on the airside are required to be EVs
2014
AAHK implemented an APU ban in December 2014
20%
The APU ban policy reduces NOx emissions from APU operations by approximately 20%
95%
95% of HKIA Ground Services Equipment is electrified
1,300
By 2030, increase the number of 1,300 charge points to support airside vehicles electrification
Awards & Recognition
