Hong Kong International Airport is the Main Airport in Hong Kong

Kong International Airport (HKIA) is the main airport in Hong Kong; it is an important regional trans-shipment center, passenger hub, and gateway between Mainland China and the rest of Asia. And HKIA is the primary hub for several domestic airlines, such as Cathay Pacific Airways, Dragonair, Hong Kong Express Airways, etc. Review the history, HKIA has won seven Skytrax World Airport Awards for customer satisfaction in just ten years (Skytrax, 2010), the second busiest airport in the world in terms of cargo traffic and the 13th busiest airport worldwide in terms of passenger throughput in 2009 (Airports Council International, 2010).

This is the strong evidence to prove that HKIA was entering the World-Class International Airport and we can estimate its development effectively. In this essay, I will go to evaluate the hub airport development of the Hong Kong International Airport, also try to analyze the overall performance and the relevant statistics with other major hub airports to make the comparison and some opinions. The passenger throughput and cargo traffic in HKIA are developed at tremendous speed in the past 10 years.

In view of this, the Airport Authority Hong Kong was going to build up some supporting facilities to strengthen its competitiveness, such as Terminal 2, North Satellite Terminal, SkyPier and planning to construct the third runway, etc. This is a very active operation to maintain and develop the position as a hub airport while comparing with other major hub airports around the world. There are several major hub airports in Southeast Asia, like the Singapore Changi Airport and the Beijing Capital International Airport, etc.No matter what the passenger and cargo throughput, facilities, connection architecture and awards; it has competed so intensively with the HKIA. First of all, I will go to analysis the development trend of passenger throughput in the HKIA. In the early of 2000s, the operation of HKIA was back on the train after the transition period from the Kai Tak Airport. Base on the statistics, the total passenger in 2001 was 32,546,029 and ranking 17 (Airports Council International, 2002).

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After one year, the throughput increase 4. 1% to 33,882,463, and the ranking climb to 15 (Airports Council International, 2003). But in 2003, the passenger drops about 20% to 27,092,290 since the influence of SARS (Airports Council International, 2004). The HKIA has suffered a huge loss in this year, such as the passenger, cargo and economy, etc. Luckily, the recession has to undergo only one year, and it rises up again in the next year. In 2004, the PAX increase 25. 5% to 36,711,920 (Airports Council International, 2005), and the trend continues to increase until 2009.

The other statistics which in 2005 increase 9. 7% to 40,269,847 (Airports Council International, 2006), 2006 increase 8. % to 43,857,908 (Airports Council International, 2007), 2007 increase 7. 3% to 47,042,419 (Airports Council International, 2008), 2008 increase 1. 7% to 47,857,746 (Airports Council International, 2009). And the trend was adjusted lightly in 2009, which is decrease 5% to 45,499,604 (Airports Council International, 2010). The phenomenon was anticipated since the outbreak of H1N1 influenza made the economic slowdown in the whole world.

Apart from these passenger throughput data, we can analysis the HKIA was very successful as a passenger hub airport, even in Asia. Since the passenger flow was increase equably in the past 10 years. And its ranking is good enough which represents the Asia hub airport. And here is the diagram to compare the PAX throughput between HKIA and Changi Airport. [pic]The above diagram shows the passenger traffic comparison between two major hub airports in Asia. Both of them are keeping the ascending trend since 2002, and the top 30 rankings. As we know, the Singapore Changi Airport had the long term history and winning over 340 awards in a 20-year period from 1987 to 2007.

Also, with 80 airlines serving 200 cities in 60 countries, Changi Airport established itself as a major aviation hub in the Asia Pacific region (Changi Airport Group, 2009). But when we look back the passenger throughput in HKIA; it was higher than Singapore Changi Airport about 6,000,000 to 8,000,000 in the past 10 years averagely. The most important is the HKIA just goes through the 10-year history. It can prove the development of HKIA is very high-speed and prosperity. [pic] Secondly, it is the cargo traffic comparison between the HKIA and Changi Airport. The diagram shows above is the total cargo statistics from 2009 to 2009. Base on the diagram, it is no doubt to prove that the HKIA is acting the leader position in Asia, even in the World since 2002.

The cargo traffic was above 2,500,000 tones from 2002 and continued to rise above 3,000,000 from 2004 and until to 2009. And the HKIA keeps the second-ranking in the World's busiest airports by cargo traffic since 2002, just behind the Memphis International Airport (Airports Council International, 2003~2010). When compare the cargo traffic with the other busiest cargo airports in Asia - Changi Airport. We can clearly perceive the outcome and difference. Although the history of Changi Airport is longer then HKIA, and it introduced the Air Hub Development Fund in 2003 (Net Resources International, 2010) to attract the airlines and push up the cargo traffic. But the total cargo traffic in the past 8 years still fell behind HKIA distantly, and the gap becomes has widened in these several years. This is the best statistics to verify that the HKIA is the successful hub airport in the cargo side.

Moreover, it is the new development in HKIA. It officially launched two new facilities in January 2010, which are the SkyPier and the North Satellite Concourse. For the Skypier, the temporary SkyPier was made available in 2003. It assists the movement of passengers between HKIA and the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. With an extensive air network of 150 destinations, HKIA has also served well the air transportation needs of the PRD, meeting the economic development needs of Hong Kong and contributing to Mainland's economic growth over the past three decades (HKIA Press Releases, 2010). And the AA has invested over HK$1 billion in the construction of a new North Satellite Concourse (HKIA Press Releases, 2009). It is designed to serve more than five million passengers a year at the initial stage.

And ensure the same level of service for the passengers who fly on smaller aircraft (HKIA Press Releases, 2009). Refer to the Executive Director in Airport Authority Hong Kong, said, “HKIA is dedicated to providing top-notch service and facilities to enhance its competitiveness as a regional and international aviation center. With the new satellite concourse, less than 10 flights will need to be parked at remote bays every day compared to the current 40 to 50. This means more passengers can embark or disembark their aircraft in a pleasant, weatherproof environment, sparing them the inconvenience of being exposed to hot or rainy weather” (HKIA Press Releases, 2009). The director has briefly explained the objective and function of the North Satellite Concourse. Evidently, the growth project is using to enhance service levels, pave the way to meet future demands and strengthen the connection with the PRD network. Also, deepen the role and position as a hub airport around the world.

In conclusion, the passenger throughput, total cargo traffic and the facilities development in HKIA have expanded quickly in the past ten years. And all the relevant statistics, ranking, awards and reputation have a sustainable increase. It is the positive outcome and result to evaluate the development of the HKIA as a hub airport, also HKIA is the famous, guarantee airport for all the local and foreigner.HKIA Opens New Passenger Concourse to Enhance Service.

Retrieved 20 April, 2010, from http://www. hongkongairport. com/eng/media/press-releases/pr_981. html HKIA Press Releases (2010).Airport's New SkyPier and North Satellite Concourse Officially Opened. Retrieved 20 April, 2010, from http://www. hongkongairport. com/eng/media/press-releases/pr_983. html

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