Hong Kong International Airport seems like the heart starts pounding faster when we bring this word into our mouth. Isn’t it? As the name is big its presence is also important in this world. Hong Kong International Airport is the second busiest airport in the world as per the cargo traffic that handles 3,660,901 tons of cargo and is also the main airport in Hong Kong. This airport is also known as Chek Lap Kok Airport as it was constructed on the Island of Chek Lap Kok. This airport was opened for commercial operations in the year 1998 by replacing Kai Tak Airport. This airport is a significant regional trans-shipment centre, passenger hub and also a gateway for more than 40 destinations in Mainland China.
This airport has won seven Skytrax World Airport Awards in ten years. So you can realize the importance of this airport and what power does this airport have. This airport is functioned by the Airport Authority Hong Kong and is a major hub for Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Hong Kong Express Airways, Hong Kong Airlines, Air Hong Kong only for cargo and Asia Jet which is Private. This airport also functions among the largest passenger terminal buildings in the world and operates for 24 hours daily. Its runway length is 12467 feet with 19 feet of elevation.
Some 90 airlines operate their flights from this airport to more than 150 cities across the world. Now this airport is rated as 12th busiest airport in the world as per the crowd of passengers by registering them to 47,857,746. Hence, this airport has been a significant contributor to boost the economy of Hong Kong with 60,000 people who were employed at this airport. The airport has total two terminals and the airport code is HKG. The airport could be found at a distance of 34 kilometres towards northwest of Hong Kong Island. It also has an official website as www.hongkongairport.com.
Overall, this airport has 70 boarding gates along with 63 jet bridge gates and seven virtual gates that are uses as an assembly points for passengers. Out of 63 jet bridges, five of the bridges are capable of managing the Airbus A380. Terminal 1 is the third largest airport passenger building in all over the world with 570,000 square metres and was opened on 15th September, 2006 whereas, Terminal 2 was opened on 28th February, 2007. Along with this Airport Station’s Platform 3 was also opened. Recently, in the year 2008, a 5-star, 1000 room Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel was also opened.
The airlines operated from this airport are Aeroflot, AirAsia, Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air India, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, Air Niugini, Air Pacific, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Dragonair, El Al, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, Finnair, Garuda Indonesia, Hong Kong Airlines, Hong Kong Express Airways, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, Jetstar Asia Airways, Kenya Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, KLM, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Mandarin Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Orient Thai Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Thai AirAsia, Thai Airways International, Tiger Airways, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways and Xiamen Airlines.
Besides this, several cargo airlines that are operated from this airport are ACT Airlines, Aeroflot-Cargo, Aerologic, AirBridgeCargo Airlines, Air Cargo Germany, Air China Cargo, Air France Cargo, Air Hong Kong, ANA Cargo, Asiana Cargo, Atlas Air, British Airways World Cargo, Cargolux, Cargolux Italia, Cargoitalia, Cathay Pacific Cargo, China Cargo Airlines, China Airlines Cargo, Czech Airlines Cargo, Deccan 360, Donghai Airlines, Dragonair Cargo, El Al Cargo, Emirates SkyCargo, EVA Air Cargo, Evergreen International Airlines, FedEx Express, Grandstar Cargo, JAL Cargo, Jade Cargo International, Jett8 Airlines Cargo, Kalitta Air, KLM Cargo, Korean Air Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo, Mandarin Airlines, MASkargo, Martinair Cargo, MK Airlines, Nippon Cargo Airlines, Orient Thai Cargo Airlines, Philippine Airlines Cargo, Polar Air Cargo, Qantas Freight, Saudi Arabian Airlines Cargo, Shanghai Airlines Cargo, Singapore Airlines Cargo, Southern Air, Star Airlines, Thai Global Airline, TNT Airways, Transmile Air Services, ULS Cargo, UPS Airlines, World Airways and Yangtze River Express.
This airport provides major facilities for the passengers. For money and communication bank, bureaux de change counters and ATMs are situated everywhere in the terminal. Post office could be found at the Departures hall. Internet access is available widely. Over 150 food and drink outlets are available in the Arrivals hall. Gifts and duty-free shops are there in both the terminals. Luggage facilities are available in a huge variety. Medical centre, pharmacy and plenty of other facilities are there in the airport. In fact, the disabled travellers get full access to the airport. Facilities are provided for them widely.
For conference and business you have facilities like PCCW Business Centre, Plaza Premium Lounge, Regal Airport Hotel and Asia World Expo. For accommodation you have the Regal Airport Hotel which has link to the passenger terminal through a covered walkway. Information counters and a booking service could be found in the Arrivals hall which is operated by the Hong Kong Hotels Association. Car parking spaces are available highly. One undercover multi-storey car park 4 and three open air ground level car parks-1, 2 and 3 are there at the airport. 1, 2 and 4 car parks are short termed where as, car park 3 is at present closed for construction work.
Hire a car from two major car companies who have desks in the arrivals hall and they are Intercontinental Hire Cars and Parklane Limousine Service. Rail, bus, coach, taxi and water all helps you to reach to your destination. For guidance, head to the Departures check-in hall and to the arrivals hall where you will get Customer Service Centres. You will get plenty of 24 hour help phones at everywhere in the terminal. Well, remember that you need a visa to enter China.
If you get time, visit some of the nearby attractions in the Lantau Islands. Hong Kong Disneyland, Ngong Ping 360, Giant Buddha, Tai O Fishing Village, Dolphin Watching and thousands of attractions can be explored here. As it is one of the famous tourist destinations in the world, Hong Kong will offer everything to everyone. Just be wild to explore the well-known sites when you reach to the Hong Kong International Airport.
