Air Traffic Movements at Hong Kong International Airport Reaching Saturation（2013/10/23）

MR YIU SI-WING: President, there is still 10 years to go before 2023. Given the handling of 56 million passengers in 2012, the runway capacity of the HKIA might reach capacity before 2023 when the HKIA is expected to handle 70 million passengers. Do the authorities have a backup plan? Is there a way to address the flight movements when passenger traffic exceeds 70 million passengers, in order to avoid affecting Hong Kong's future competitive edge in the region? If so, what are the details? If not, why not?

SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING: First of all, international passenger traffic and freight cargoes are crucial to Hong Kong's economic competitive edge as well as tourism. The HKIA operates around the clock, though we must be extra careful in handling noise pollution at night because areas covered by the flight paths might be affected. Insofar as the passenger traffic or freight cargo capacity is concerned, as I mentioned in the main reply just now, the airport's existing runway system will reach its capacity within the next few years, probably 2015 or 2016. This is also the reason for the AA to fully implement its capacity expansion initiatives. The midfield expansion project, as I mentioned just now, is meant to increase the number of aircraft stands by more than 30%. As regards the runway capacity, we hope that it can be increased from 64 movements per hour at present to its full capacity of 68 movements per hour, which is the actual maximum capacity according to a previous assessment made by an international consultant for the HKIA, by the year 2015.

MR YIU SI-WING: President, the Secretary has not answered my supplementary question about a backup plan. Are there any backup plans when the actual passenger traffic exceeds the estimated traffic? Will the increase in flight movements be restricted?

SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING: President, the AA has all along maintained close communication with its aviation partners, especially airlines, on all fronts to strive to maximize the use of airport facilities and the room for the ATMs. Certainly, the demand is rising. Meanwhile, airlines have shared their views and air traffic demand assessments with the AA. At the end of the day, all international airports will be constrained by their own capacity. As I mentioned in the main reply just now, major airports in the neighbouring regions, including the Changi Airport in Singapore,are already under constant expansion. Therefore, from the angle of the Government or the AA, the construction of the third runway indeed brooks no delay.