Hong Kong, Chek Lap Kok (HKG/VHHH) HK-China
IATA: HKG – ICAO: VHHH | |||
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Summary | |||
Airport type | Public, Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport, due to the fact that it was built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation. HKIA operates around-the-clock. It is one of the world's busiest airport in terms of international passenger and cargo movement. In 2006, HKIA handled 44 million passengers and 3.6 million tonnes of cargo. It is the primary hub for Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Hong Kong Express Airways, Hong Kong Airlines, Oasis Hong Kong Airlines and Air Hong Kong. It is also a focus city for United Airlines | ||
Operator | Airport Authority Hong Kong | ||
Serves | Hong Kong | ||
Location | Chek Lap Kok | ||
Hub for | |||
History | It opened for commercial operations in 1998, replacing Kai Tak airport, and is an important regional trans-shipment centre, passenger hub and gateway for destinations in China, East Asia and Southeast Asia. Despite its relatively short history, the airport has won several notable international "Best Airport" awards. In 2001-2005 and 2007, it came first in Skytrax's World Airport Awards. | ||
Coordinates | |||
Website | www.hongkongairport.com | ||
Runways | |||
Direction | Length | Surface | |
ft | m | ||
07R/25L | 12,467 | 3,800 | Asphalt |
07L/25R | 12,467 | 3,800 | Asphalt |
Hong Kong DSp Video | |||
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Year | Sony | Spot Location | |
VHS | |||
1998 | Historic movie about the first open day of the new airport "Chek Lap Kok" with the first CX flight to Paris CDG |
Spotting & First Day at Hong Kong, Chek Lap Kok, China
envoyé par DreamSpotter
History
Opened in 6 July 1998, it took six years and US $20 billion to build. On that day at 6:25 a.m., Cathay Pacific's CX889 was the first flight to land at the airport, pipping the original CX292 from Rome which was the scheduled first arrival. The architects were Foster and Partners. For three to five months after its opening, it suffered various severe organisational, mechanical, and technical problems that almost crippled the airport. At one time, the government reopened the cargo terminal at Kai Tak Airport to handle freight traffic due to a breakdown at the new cargo terminal, named Super Terminal One (ST1). Luckily, things started to settle down after six months and the airport started to operate normally.
The airport was built on a largely artificial island reclaimed from Chek Lap Kok and Lam Chau. The two former islands that were levelled comprise about 25% of the surface area of the airport's 12.48 km² platform. It is connected to the northern side of Lantau Island near the historic village of Tung Chung, now expanded into a new town. Land reclamation for the airport added nearly 1% to the entirety of Hong Kong's surface area. It replaced the former Hong Kong International Airport (popularly known by its former name Kai Tak Airport), which was located in the Kowloon City area with a single runway extending into Kowloon Bay close to the urban built-up areas.
Construction of the new airport was only part of the Airport Core Programme, which also involved construction of new road and rail links to the airport, with associated bridges and tunnels, and major land reclamation projects on both Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon. The project is the most expensive airport project, according to Guinness World Records. Construction of the new airport was voted as one of the Top 10 Construction Achievements of the 20th Century at the ConExpo conference in 1999.