Hong Kong International Airport’s (HKIA) new Terminal Two (T2) is a step closer to opening after a full-scale rehearsal involving more than 1,100 participants from around 30 organisations.
The exercise involved Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), three local airlines that will operate at T2, ground handlers, government departments, Aviation Security Company Limited (AVSECO) and other relevant stakeholders.
Steven Yiu, executive director, Airport Operations of AAHK, said, “The purpose [of the trial] is to familiarise business partners with the layout, facilities, and passenger departure processes of the new terminal.”
The departure facilities at T2 are expected to handle around eight million passenger trips in the first 12 months of operation.
Starting on 27 May, 15 airlines primarily operating regional routes, including the three home-based carriers – HK Express Airways, Hong Kong Airlines and Greater Bay Airlines – will relocate their departures check-in service to T2 in batches.
The other airlines are AirAsia, Batik Air Malaysia, Hainan Airlines, Philippines AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Cambodia Airways, IndiGo, VietJet Air, Bangkok Airways, Jeju Air and Cebu Pacific Air.
The target is to complete the relocation of all 15 airlines to T2 by mid-June 2026, catering for demand over the summer peak travel season.
The split between regional (T2) and international (T1) flights is expected to distribute passenger traffic more evenly and give a better passenger traffic experience.