Airport Authority Hong Kong has detailed a sweeping set of upgrades designed to future-proof Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and cement its role as a global super-connector. Published on 27 November, the plan showcases progress on the Three-Runway System, a completely rebuilt Terminal 2, and a modernised SkyPier ferry terminal that links air passengers with the Pearl River Delta.
Terminal 2’s redevelopment—slated for full completion in 2026—adds more than 40 self-service bag-drop kiosks, biometric boarding gates, and an expanded coach hall that integrates cross-boundary buses with the airport’s new APM line. Business travellers transiting between flights and Shenzhen or Macau will spend less than 30 minutes kerb-to-gate, according to Airport Authority projections.
![Hong Kong International Airport Unveils Next-Gen Terminal 2 and SkyPier Upgrades]()
SkyPier’s facelift is equally significant for mobility managers. The pier will gain automated passport e-gates and real-time bag tracking so that ferry-to-flight baggage can be injected directly into the airport’s high-speed sorter. That removes the need for travellers to clear Hong Kong immigration when simply transiting, shaving up to 90 minutes off door-to-door times.
The Three-Runway System, whose third runway entered “passive” use in 2024, is on schedule for full commissioning next year. Once operational, HKIA’s declared runway capacity will rise from 68 to 102 movements per hour—a 50 % jump—unlocking thousands of new slots for airlines. This is critical as Cathay Pacific, HK Express and GBA all scale up post-pandemic networks.
For corporates relocating staff to the Greater Bay Area, the integrated air-sea-land hub means faster connections to factory clusters in Zhuhai, Dongguan and Zhongshan without routing through mainland airports. The upgrades also dovetail with Hong Kong’s ambition to host 50+ major MICE events annually; improved passenger flow and added gate capacity reduce the risk of peak-hour congestion that plagued the airport pre-COVID.
Terminal 2’s redevelopment—slated for full completion in 2026—adds more than 40 self-service bag-drop kiosks, biometric boarding gates, and an expanded coach hall that integrates cross-boundary buses with the airport’s new APM line. Business travellers transiting between flights and Shenzhen or Macau will spend less than 30 minutes kerb-to-gate, according to Airport Authority projections.
SkyPier’s facelift is equally significant for mobility managers. The pier will gain automated passport e-gates and real-time bag tracking so that ferry-to-flight baggage can be injected directly into the airport’s high-speed sorter. That removes the need for travellers to clear Hong Kong immigration when simply transiting, shaving up to 90 minutes off door-to-door times.
The Three-Runway System, whose third runway entered “passive” use in 2024, is on schedule for full commissioning next year. Once operational, HKIA’s declared runway capacity will rise from 68 to 102 movements per hour—a 50 % jump—unlocking thousands of new slots for airlines. This is critical as Cathay Pacific, HK Express and GBA all scale up post-pandemic networks.
For corporates relocating staff to the Greater Bay Area, the integrated air-sea-land hub means faster connections to factory clusters in Zhuhai, Dongguan and Zhongshan without routing through mainland airports. The upgrades also dovetail with Hong Kong’s ambition to host 50+ major MICE events annually; improved passenger flow and added gate capacity reduce the risk of peak-hour congestion that plagued the airport pre-COVID.
