The Hong Kong Airport Core ProgramThe Hong Kong International / The Chep Lap Kok Airport

Submitted to,Ms. Roshna VargheseRCBSSubmitted by,Ebin Raju VarugheseElizabeth Mary AlexanderMBA-B

Hong Kong International Airport (IATA: HKG,ICAO: VHHH) is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport (), being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial operations in 1998, replacing Kai Tak, and is an important regional trans-shipment centre, passenger hub and gateway for destinations in Mainland China (with over 40 destinations) and the rest of Asia. Hong Kong International Airport has won eight Skytrax World Airport Awards for customer satisfaction in eleven years.[3][4] HKIA ranked second and third in 2009 and 2010 respectively for the Skytrax World Airport Awards, and has also won the Skytrax World Airport of the Year 2011.HKIA also operates one of the world's largest passenger terminal buildings (the largest when opened in 1998) and operates twenty-four hours a day. The airport is operated by the Airport Authority Hong Kong and is the primary hub for Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Hong Kong Express Airways, Hong Kong Airlines and Air Hong Kong (cargo). The airport is also one of the Asian-Pacific cargo hubs for UPS Airlines.[1] It is a focus city for many airlines, including China Airlines and Air New Zealand,[5] and to a lesser extent Qantas and Virgin Atlantic, both of which use Hong Kong as a stopover point for flights on the Kangaroo Route between Australasia and Europe. Both United and Air India use Hong Kong as a stopover point for flights respectively from the United States to Singapore, Tokyo and Ho Chi Minh City as well as from India to Osaka and Seoul. In the near future, Garuda Indonesia is considering making Hong Kong their transit hub for flights to Europe while Swiss International Air Lines considers Hong Kong to be a major transfer hub for its network.[6][7]HKIA is an important contributor to the Hong Kong economy, employing approximately 60,000 workers. About 90 airlines operate flights from the airport to over 150 cities across the globe. In 2010 HKIA handled 50,348,960 passengers, making it the 11th busiest airport worldwide by passenger traffic.[8] It also surpassed Memphis International Airport to become the world's busiest airport by cargo traffic.[9]Chek Lap Kok Airport was designed as a replacement for the former Hong Kong International Airport (commonly known as Kai Tak Airport) originally built in 1925. Located in the densely built-up Kowloon City District with a single runway extending into Kowloon Bay, Kai Tak had only limited room for expansion to cope with steadily increasing air traffic. By the 1990s, Kai Tak had become one of the world's busiest airports it far exceeded its annual passenger and cargo design capacities, and one out of every three flights met delays, largely due to lack of space for aircraft, gates, and a second runway.[10] In addition, noise mitigation measures restricted nighttime flights, as severe noise pollution (exceeding 105dB(A) in Kowloon City) was estimated to adversely affect at least 340,000 people.[11][12]A 1974 planning study by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation and Public Works department identified the small island of Chek Lap Kok, off Lantau Island, as a possible airport replacement site. Away from the congested city centre, flight paths would be routed over the South China Sea rather than populous urban areas, enabling efficient round-the-clock operation of multiple runways. Construction of the new airport, however, did not begin until 1991. The construction period was very rushed; specialists considered only a 1020 year period was sufficient for this massive project. Another cause for this rush was due to the uncertain future of the airport construction after the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China. It was originally believed that Beijing preferred to keep everything basically intact and minimise financial commitments for big projects, therefore stopping all construction despite the need for the new airport. At last, the airport did not finish in time for the Handover. However, China gave an additional year's grace period to finish the project. It was finished just in time.[13][14]Hong Kong International Airport was built on a large artificial island, formed by levelling Chek Lap Kok and Lam Chau islands (3.02km and 0.08km respectively), and reclaiming 9.38km of the adjacent seabed. The 12.48km airport site added nearly 1% to Hong Kong's total surface area, connecting to the north side of Lantau Island near Tung Chung new town.[15]Construction of the new airport was only part of the Airport Core Programme, which also involved construction of new road and rail links to the airport, with associated bridges and tunnels, and major land reclamation projects on both Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon. The project is the most expensive airport project ever, according to Guinness World Records. Construction of the new airport was voted as one of the Top 10 Construction Achievements of the 20th Century at the ConExpo conference in 1999.[16]The sides of the terminals, predominantly glass, were designed to break during high speed winds, relieving pressure and allowing the terminal to withstand an intense typhoon.[13]Opened on 6 July 1998, a week later than the new Kuala Lumpur International Airport, it took six years and US$20billion to build. On that day at 6:25am, Cathay Pacific flight 889 was the first commercial flight to land at the airport, pipping the original CX292 from Rome which was the scheduled first arrival. The architects were Foster and Partners. However, on the first day of opening, the airport had already started to experience some technical difficulties. The flight information display system (FIDS) had suddenly shut down which caused long delays. Shortly afterwards, the cargo communication link with Kai Tak, where all the data was stored, went down. In the same period of time, someone had accidentally deleted a critical database for cargo services. This meant that cargo had to be manually stored. At one point, the airport had to turn away freight headed for and exported from Hong Kong (except food and medical supplies) while it sorted out the mess. HKIA simply could not keep up without an automated computer assisting.[13] For three to five months after its opening, it suffered various severe organisational, mechanical and technical problems that almost crippled the airport. Computer glitches were to blame for the crisis. Lau Kang-way, a Hong Kong politician, was quoted saying "This was meant to be a first-class project, but it has turned into a ninth-class airport and a disgrace. Our airport has become the laughing stock of the world.[17][18] At one time, the government reopened the cargo terminal at Kai Tak Airport to handle freight traffic because of a breakdown at the new cargo terminal, named Super Terminal One (ST1).[19] However, after six months the airport started to operate normally.Officially opened in June 2007, the second airport terminal, called T2, (check-in facility only) is linked with the MTR Airport Express on a new platform. The terminal also features a new shopping mall, SkyPlaza, providing a large variety of shops and restaurants, together with a few entertainment facilities. T2 also houses a 36-bay coach station for buses to and from mainland China and 56 airline check-in counters, as well as customs and immigration facilities.Besides T2, the SkyCity Nine Eagles Golf Course has been opened in 2007 whereas the second airport hotel, the Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel; and a permanent cross-boundary ferry terminal, the SkyPier, began operations in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Development around T2 also includes the AsiaWorld-Expo which has started operation in late 2005.[20] A second passenger concourse, the North Satellite Concourse (NSC), opened in 2010.The Hong Kong Airport Core Programme (Chinese: ) was a series of infrastructure projects centred around the new Hong Kong International Airport during the early 1990s. The programme was part of the Port and Airport Development Strategy, commonly known as the Rose Garden Project.The cost for the whole project was estimated at over HK$200billion, and the Chinese Government was concerned about its impact on the financial reserve of the future Hong Kong SAR Government. Several changes were made to the plan, including the shortening of the Tsing Ma Bridge and the constructing of the Airport Railway as a double-track railway. The project ended up costing HK$160.2billion (160,200,000,000).[1]The Programme formally commenced after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between British Prime Minister John Major and Chinese Premier Li Peng in Beijing on 3 September 1991, and lasted 8 years in total. It was the biggest infrastructure programme in Hong Kong's history.There were plans to replace the old Kai Tak Airport after the Second World War. However due to financial and political reasons, the plan was abandoned in 1951 and the Hong Kong Government decided to expand the original airport instead.[2]With the growth of the economy of Hong Kong during the 1970s, the project was mentioned again. The Government earmarked Chek Lap Kok, just off the north coast of Lantau Island near Tung Chung, as the new airport's site. However, the plan was shelved in 1983 for economic reasons, as well as the question of Hong Kong's sovereignty and the impending signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.[2]The plan was announced on 11 October 1989 by the then Governor Wilson, and it was perceived to be part of the government's effort to reinstate confidence in Hong Kong after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. The public was initially surprised by the huge budget and there were concerns that it would drain much of the public revenue.[3] The programme was completed with the opening of the new Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok in July 1998.[The Ten Core ProjectsThe programme included:[edit] Hong Kong International AirportThe Hong Kong International Airport is the centrepiece of this massive project; it provided the foundation for the other 9 core projects of the Airport Core Programme.Chek Lap Kok was selected as an optimal site due to its development potential. Construction finally started in 1992 and was planned to finish in mid-1997. Chris Patten, the last Governor of Hong Kong, expressed his hope of leaving Hong Kong via the new airport after the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong. Sadly, this did not materialise. The airport finally come into operation on 6 July 1998, at a cost of around US$20billion.[4][edit] Airport RailwayThe Airport Railway was built to connect Kowloon Peninsula and Hong Kong Island to the Airport and the planned new towns of Northern Lantau. The railway is operated by the MTR Corporation and has two routes: the Airport Express and the Tung Chung Line which provides a commuter service linking the new town of Tung Chung to the city. These two lines share the same double-tracks for most of their routes, however, the railway was initially planned to have 4 tracks along its length. The commuter service offered by the Tung Chung Line also provided relief to the overcrowded Tsuen Wan Line of the MTR.[edit] Lantau LinkComprising Kap Shui Mun Bridge and Tsing Ma Bridge, the Lantau Link connects Lantau with Tsing Yi, via Ma Wan. It carries both road and railway traffic between the islands.[edit] Western Harbour CrossingThis is the third cross-harbour tunnel for Victoria Harbour. Built under a BOT agreement with the Western Harbour Tunnel Company, the tunnel was intended to relieve congestion at the Cross Harbour Tunnel and is part of expressway Route 3.[edit] North Lantau ExpresswayWith the highest posted speed limit in Hong Kong, this 6-lane motorway links Tung Chung in the west to the Lantau Link in the east, via the north coast of Lantau.[edit] Route 3 Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi SectionsRoute 3 is one of the 9 strategic expressway routes of Hong Kong, linking Sai Ying Pun on Hong Kong Island and Yuen Long in the New Territories. The Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi sections were built to link the Lantau Link and West Kowloon Expressway.The Kwai Chung section is 3km in length. The route connects with the West Kowloon Expressway near Lai Chi Kok, then bypasses the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals, finally connecting with the Cheung Tsing Bridge of the Tsing Yi section. It is an 8-lane elevated motorway. This section is now known as Tsing Kwai Highway.The Tsing Yi section comprises the 500 m long Cheung Tsing Bridge, which crosses over Rambler Channel, and the 1.6km Cheung Tsing Tunnel, which cuts through the high ground on Tsing Yi Island. This section is now known as the Cheung Tsing Highway.[edit] West Kowloon ExpresswayThis is a 6-lane motorway 4.2km in length with the northern 2km elevated for the Airport Railway running underneath. It links the Kowloon portal of the Western Harbour Crossing in the south to the Tsing Kwai Highway in the north and is built entirely on newly reclaimed land.[edit] Land Reclamation in West KowloonReclamation work was needed along the west coast of Kowloon Peninsula to provide land for the expressway, Route 3, as well as supporting infrastructure. The Airport Railway also runs through the reclaimed land of West Kowloon. The reclamation work has increased the area of Kowloon Peninsula by 30%.[edit] Central Reclamation Phase IThis phase required the reclamation of an area of 20 hectares along the waterfront of Central to provide land for the Airport Railway's Hong Kong Station. Two ferry piers serving outlying islands as well as a government dockyard had to be relocated to facilitate the work.[edit] Phase I of North Lantau New TownThe first phase of the new town in Northern Lantau is centred around Tung Chung and was planned to provide housing to 18,000 people. The new town was meant to be a supporting community for the new Hong Kong International Airport, as well as to act as a "gateway" to Hong Kong for visitors. At present, phases I, II and IIIA of the new town have been completed, all around Tung Chung. When all 4 phases are completed, the new town will be home to 320,000 people, covering an area of 830 hectares between Tung Chung and the neighbouring area of Tai Ho.(HONG KONG, 15 July 1997) -- The Airport Authority (AA) has mandated four institutions to arrange a three year revolving facility for an amount of HK$3,000 million (US$384.6 m). They are: China Development Finance Company (Hong Kong) Limited (for Bank of China, Hong Kong Branch), Tokyo-Mitsubishi International (HK) Limited (for The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd.), Chase Manhattan Asia Limited (for The Chase Manhattan Bank), and HSBC Investment Bank Asia Limited (for The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited). Roles are distributed as follows: 1. Agent: The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd. 2. Books: China Development Finance Company (Hong Kong) Limited and Chase Manhattan Asia Limited 3. Documentation: Chase Manhattan Asia Limited 4. Publicity and Signing: HSBC Investment Bank Asia Limited The facility is for general corporate purposes, including the financing of the second runway, the northwest concourse and new capital expenditure arising after the opening of the airport. Participating banks will receive a margin at 0.30% p.a., plus a management fee to be agreed. General syndication will commence as soon as sub-underwriting by the co-arrangers is completed, with a view to signing the credit agreement by 15 September 1997. The new facility will not be used for the opening phase of the new airport, known as Phase 1a, for which sufficient funding provision has been put in place as mentioned below. In January 1996, the Authority signed a credit agreement with 48 banks for a five year facility of HK$8,200 million (US$1,051.3 m) to finance the Phase 1a of the airport project. Loans drawn under the facility will be repaid in full by 30 September 2001. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Authority expects the facility will be sufficient for the Phase 1a, and draw down will commence in October this year. Separate arrangements for the Airport Authority's Note Issuance Programme have also been completed, subject to execution of the related legal documents. The Programme will have the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) as the Arranger and Agent. With this Programme, the Authority will be able to issue fixed or floating rate paper with a maturity of up to ten years. The announced HK$3,000 million syndicated credit facility and Note Issuance Programme will target different investors and provide complementary elements of Airport Authority's overall financing plan.(HONG KONG, 15 July 1997) -- The Airport Authority (AA) has mandated four institutions to arrange a three year revolving facility for an amount of HK$3,000 million (US$384.6 m). They are: China Development Finance Company (Hong Kong) Limited (for Bank of China, Hong Kong Branch), Tokyo-Mitsubishi International (HK) Limited (for The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd.), Chase Manhattan Asia Limited (for The Chase Manhattan Bank), and HSBC Investment Bank Asia Limited (for The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited). Roles are distributed as follows: 1. Agent: The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd. 2. Books: China Development Finance Company (Hong Kong) Limited and Chase Manhattan Asia Limited 3. Documentation: Chase Manhattan Asia Limited 4. Publicity and Signing: HSBC Investment Bank Asia Limited The facility is for general corporate purposes, including the financing of the second runway, the northwest concourse and new capital expenditure arising after the opening of the airport. Participating banks will receive a margin at 0.30% p.a., plus a management fee to be agreed. General syndication will commence as soon as sub-underwriting by the co-arrangers is completed, with a view to signing the credit agreement by 15 September 1997. The new facility will not be used for the opening phase of the new airport, known as Phase 1a, for which sufficient funding provision has been put in place as mentioned below. In January 1996, the Authority signed a credit agreement with 48 banks for a five year facility of HK$8,200 million (US$1,051.3 m) to finance the Phase 1a of the airport project. Loans drawn under the facility will be repaid in full by 30 September 2001. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Authority expects the facility will be sufficient for the Phase 1a, and draw down will commence in October this year. Separate arrangements for the Airport Authority's Note Issuance Programme have also been completed, subject to execution of the related legal documents. The Programme will have the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) as the Arranger and Agent. With this Programme, the Authority will be able to issue fixed or floating rate paper with a maturity of up to ten years. The announced HK$3,000 million syndicated credit facility and Note Issuance Programme will target different investors and provide complementary elements of Airport Authority's overall financing plan.BECHTEL S R O L EBechtel, in a fully integrated team with the client, was responsible foroverall multiproject development. Bechtel was retained to provide theexpertise and systems necessary to effectively integrate and orchestratethis multiproject program and create a strong matrix managementorganization with the client. Bechtel personnel and Hong Konggovernment staff were co-located in Hong Kong to oversee planning,design, and construction activities.Bechtel's role included: Master plan implementation Program controls (estimating, budgeting, baseline and annualforecasting, scheduling) Implementation of the management information system Overall program technical and financial review and recommendations Environmental impact mitigation program Coordination of wrap-up insurance program Contract administration/coordination and claims management Transfer of program management skills and techniques togovernment counterpartsADDED VALUEBechtel's global perspective and resources, coupled with the client's localknowledge and capabilities, translated into a highly effective cost andschedule controls program that met the challenges of integrating the10 major projects (7 of which were managed by Hong Kong governmentagencies, 2 by statutory corporations, and 1 by an independentfranchisee). Bechtel helped NAPCO oversee the work of 170 contractorsfrom 18 different nations. The work involved about 200 major contracts,more than 150 of which were active simultaneously, with 1,000contractual interfaces. Because of its effectiveness, the controls programwas adopted by the Hong Kong government as a basis for an overallpublic works management program.Benefits of the integrated program management system included: A common approach to cost and budget control across all projects ledto significant efficiencies and flexibility for the management teamenabling it to quickly shift emphasis from one project to another aswork-flow demands changed Tight control/coordination of all elements allowed for earlyresolution of potential bottlenecks (such as community issues)Bechtel helped strengthen ACPs claims management/control byadopting a policy of lump-sum contract conditions with strict time limitsapplying to claims modification, time-barring provisions to controlsubmittal of claims details, and a structured three-tier scheme forresolution of disputes, beginning with mandatory mediation. Thisimproved process allowed a recovery of 5 months to the schedule on TaiHo Utility Reserve, and avoided domino effects to the airportcompletion.Bechtel also recommended and led the development of an ownercontrolledinsurance program resulting in the reduction of brokeragecommission costs from $6.3 million to 2.7 million and improved servicesfrom brokers.The island of Hong Kong has changed drastically over 150 years when Lord Palmerstonfirst voiced his skepticism over the potential of the large rock of an island. Since that time, HongKong has grown, so much so that Kai Tak, Hong Kong's current airport, has been operating atcapacity for years and increases in both passenger and cargo traffic are expected to havecontinuous, robust growth. Therefore, Hong Kong in order to sustain its current rate of economicgrowth an alternative site for an airport was created, literally.

In 1991, the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the United Kingdom of Great Britainand Northern Ireland (United Kingdom) signed a Memorandum of Understanding recognizingthe need for a new airport and requiring the Hong Kong Government to complete the new airport"to the maximum extent possible" by 30. June 1997. An Airport Authority was established inaccordance with the MOU and under the authorization of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. TheAirport Authority was also modeled after the government owned Mass Transit RailwayCorporation, which is responsible for building the infrastructure needed for the Chek Lap KokAirport. The Airport Authority began operating on 1. December 1996.

Overseeing both the Airport Authority and the Mass Transit Railway Corporation is theHong Kong Airport Core Program (Airport Core Program). The Airport Core Program projectsinclude the new airport, the airport railway, five road projects, two major land reclaimations, anda new town. The Airport Core Program is being overseen by the New Airport Projects Coordination Office (NAPCO). NAPCO has been a liaison between Government worksdepartments and non-Government agencies to ensure that potential problems, such as logisticsand budgeting, can be remedied in a efficient manner.

The Government of Hong Kong has stated many of the benefits of the Airport CoreProgram. The main benefits to be seen for the community is an ease of congestion, improvedroad and rail facilities, and the airport itself. The closure of Kai Tak will also provide benefitsfor the 350,000 residents living under its flight path. The economic benefits are the creation ofemployment opportunities for local workers. 16,800 employment opportunities have beencreated during the construction period. It has been estimated that the new airport and the AirportRailway will create 6,000 new jobs. Other benefits include having a new airport located awayfrom the urban area, the first road link between Lantau Island and Hong Kong, and thedevelopment of a new town.

The Government of Hong Kong throughout this process has been conductingenvironmental impact assessment studies, and states that they have been an integral part to theAirport Core Program planning and design. A couple of the measures that have been undertakenare the installation of noise barriers and enclosures, and window insulation to decrease noiseexposure from construction sites. Another measure that has been employed is generalhousekeeping at the construction sites to keep dust to a minimum.

The design of the island at Chek Lap Kok allows tidal water to flow between the sea andthe coastline of North Lantau. This step has been taken to circulate water to the partiallyenclosed areas of water to the east. The design of the road and railway systems have alsoincluded land reclamation, however, this has been done at a greater expense to the environment. A substantial portion of the North Lantau coastline involves reclamation, except for the coastlinethat lies west of the Tung Chung. The Government of Hong Kong has taken several mitigationmeasures to keep the loss of wildlife and habitats at a minimum. Ecological studies of the localwetlands, seagrass beds, and mangrove communities were taken, resulting in the replanting ofmangroves and woodlands and the relocation of a colony of Romer's Tree Frogs. TheEnvironmental Protection Department is the government body responsible to ensure thatenvironmental monitoring and audit programs are being conducted by the Airport Core Program.

Traveling to Chek Lap Kok from Hong Kong has been carefully planned through the tenAirport Core Program projects.

The first project that one would encounter leaving Hong Kong Island is the Central Reclamation. This project, which is largely completed, will be the site of the Airport's Railway terminus onHong Kong Island and further develop the central business district.

The Western Harbour Crossing, which has opened, will be a dual, three lane, immersed tube roadtunnel. It will link the West Kowloon Expressway on the West Kowloon reclamation with a newsection of elevated road in Hong Kong Island's Western District. This tunnel besides providingairport access, will serve to relieve some of the congestion at the two existing cross harbourtunnels.

The West Kowloon Reclamation, which is largely completed, will provide housing for 91,000people, commercial space, and much needed road and rail arteries.The West Kowloon Expressway, which has opened, will serve the developments on the WestKowloon reclamation and ease traffic congestion on local expressways. It will run 4.2kilometers from the northern portal of the Western Harbour Crossing to Lai Chi Kok.

The Airport Railway will provide two distinct rail services. The Airport Express will be a fastpassenger link to the new airport at Chek Lap Kok. The Lantau Line will be a domestic servicewhich will serve to relieve the Tsuen Wan Line.

The Tsing Yi sections of Route Three, one of the smaller projects, has been reengineered torelieve congestion.

The Lantau Link will carry both road and railways connecting Tsing Yi to Ma Wan, and Ma Wanto Lantau. Its span of about 1.4 kilometers will make it the world's largest suspension bridgecarrying both road and rail traffic.

The North Lantau Expressway, which is completed, is a 12.5 kilometer, dual three lane highwaylinking the Lantau Fixed Crossing to Tung Chung new town.

Tung Chung new town will eventually occupy two valleys at Tung Chung and Tai Ho on NorthLantau, in addition to a coastal strip of reclamation along the northern shore of Lantau IslandOnce you have passed through Tung Chung new town, you will have reached the new airport atChek Lap Kok.The Airport Core Program projects have been estimated to cost $158.2 billion (U.S. $20 billion) in money of the day according to the Government of Hong Kong.

Environmental Problem TypeName: Romer's Tree FrogsType: Animal/AmphibianDiversity: colonyIUCN Category: RAREThe construction of Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok was one of the biggest operations in the industry. The core programme cost more than $20bn and involved four major sponsors, ten separate projects, 225 construction contracts and over 1,000 critical interfaces.The airport covers 12.48km of reclaimed land between the two islands of Chek Lap Kok and Lam Chau. The airport increased the land area of Hong Kong by 1%. The airport opened for business in July 1998 having taken just six years to build.There are two parallel runways (3,800m60m); one is category II and the other is the higher category IIIA allowing landing in only 200m visibility. A third runway has been considered but this is still very much in the planning stage. In January 2008, to increase operational efficiency the airport introduced RFID (radio frequency identification) baggage tags to the airport check-in procedure.The new tags printed out to tag passenger luggage contain an embedded RFID chip along with a barcode. The tags can be read from a distance and with an efficiency of around 97% compared to 80% for barcode-only tags and are now being issued in terminals one and two and in Kowloon Station to about 40,000 bags a day for 50 airlines. RFID luggage handling has been approved by the IATA (International Air Transport Association).Hong Kong Airport facilitiesHong Kong International Airport is the fourth busiest in the world; it has seen an average of 750 aircraft take-offs and landings every day and carried over 48.6 million passengers in 2006. The cargo areas are some of the world's busiest and handled over 3.6 million tons in 2006."Hong Kong Airport has been one of the largest engineering and architectural projects in the world."The shopping and leisure facilities include the airport's SkyMart with 160 shopping outlets and 40 restaurants spread over 39,000m. The facilities also include free and pay internet lounges, Wi-Fi access, many lounges and TV screens and a children's play area. The superior facilities have meant that the airport has been voted the world's best in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 (came first in Skytrax's world airport awards in 2007) and is consistently in the top-five list.The strategic location of HKIA makes it the preferred choice of global businesses; it links Hong Kong with more than 150 destinations, including 40 cities on the Chinese mainland.The elaborate and meticulously planned multi-modal transport network ensures smooth flow of movement between HKIA and the Chinese mainland. More than 90 PRD cities and towns are linked with HKIA by nearly 320 coach trips. Speedy cross-boundary arrangements are offered at Shenzhen Shekou and Fuyong, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macau. At places like Fuyong, Shekou, Macau and Dongguan Humen passengers can even pre-check their baggage and obtain their boarding pass. Skytrax, an independent air transport research organisation, has ranked HKIA the top airport for eight consecutive years. The 60,000-strong airport community ensures the highest standards of aviation excellence and preserves Hong Kong's precedence as the leading regional and international aviation hub.HKIA accessA new transportation corridor stretches 34km from Hong Kong Island to the site of the airport, incorporating a high-speed rail system, two tunnels, two bridges and a six-lane expressway.The SkyPier cross-boundary ferry service provides connectivity between the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region and international destinations through the HKIA. Passengers using the ferry service need not go through Hong Kong immigration and customs formalities.Designed for the rapid movement of millions of passengers, the airport has 288 check-in counters, 200 immigration desks and 80 customs positions. The new airport also boasts 2.5km of moving walkways and around 120 shops.Negotiations between the Chinese government, the Chek Lap Kok government and (until the handover of the colony in 1997) the British government were complex. However, the main difficulties were resolved by the mid-1990s.Sky CityThe airport complex grew with the construction of a new development adjacent to the passenger terminal called Sky City. This consists of Sky Plaza an office, retail and business complex integrated with the passenger terminal (terminal two), which then links to the rest of Sky City.Sky City has the Asia-World Expo exhibition centre, a second hotel project (Marriot Hotel Sky City opened in December 2008), a nine-hole golf course and a permanent cross-boundary ferry terminal (Sky Pier). Phase two may well consist of a business park, more hotels, and further leisure and entertainment facilities.The Sky City complex is expected to gain much business from the opening of the Disney theme park (opened in September 2006) as will the airport itself. Skidmore, Owings and Merrill is the architect, planner and engineer for the Sky City project."Sky Plaza cost an estimated HK$2bn to complete."The Sky Plaza was opened in February 2007 and included the second terminal of the airport and a new airport express platform, which serves the new terminal (Sky Plaza and Terminal 2 have a floor area of 140,000m). The shopping mall opened as well providing a variety of shops, restaurants and entertainments for passengers.The project also involved the expansion of the east hall of terminal one to provide integration with the overall airport complex (Terminal 1 has a floor area of 570,000m).The airport has also added extra inter-modal transportation facilities, including the new marine terminal (hosting the cross boundary and domestic ferries), an additional airport express line (new platform opened for T2), which will be adjacent to the exhibition centre and a new coach station (this was opened in Terminal 2 in February 2007).Sky Plaza, which extends from the passenger terminal and is fully integrated with the airport and airport express railway station features airline check in facilities, a transport interchange for coaches (in readiness for Disney), two office towers (total of 30,000m) and a 38,000m retail and entertainment centre. Sky Plaza (T2) is only used for departures of passengers.Sky Plaza cost an estimated HK$2bn to complete. The contract for the construction was awarded to Chun Wo-Fujita joint venture. A new land transport terminal is situated in Sky Plaza providing improved services for cross boundary coach passengers (36 bay coach station allowing 240 trips a day across the border). This includes customs, immigration, quarantine and security screening facilities.A three station people-mover system connects Sky Plaza to the existing passenger terminal (a contract for this was awarded to Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries). The driverless APM (automated people mover) system runs at 62km/h and there is a train every 1.5 minutes to provide transport from check-in to the gate areas.A contract for extending the people-mover tunnel to allow for a future direct connection between Sky Plaza and the airport's ferry terminal was also awarded to the Chun WoFujita joint venture.Cargo expansionDHL opened a new Central Asia Hub in August 2004, a dedicated and purpose-built air express cargo facility, at the Hong Kong International Airport. The $100m facility is the largest of its kind in the region. With the opening of the new Central Asia Hub, DHL became the only express and logistics company to operate a dedicated air express cargo facility in Hong Kong. The 18,200ft facility is capable of handling up to 440t a day of air express cargo.Another important cargo development was the expansion of the Asia Airfreight Terminal, which was announced in 2004. Asia Airfreight invested HK$1.75bn in the construction of a new terminal (completed by the end of 2006). The terminal has a handling capacity of 910,000t a year, which triples its current capacity.Air cargo in Hong Kong has been growing at 6% a year and express cargo at 13% a year. The new facility means that Asia Airfreight can meet long-term cargo capacity demands."Designed for the rapid movement of passengers, the airport has 288 check-in counters."In March 2008 the board of the Airport Authority of Hong Kong awarded a 20-year franchise to design, construct and operate a new 246,000m cargo terminal at the airport to Cathay Pacific Services Limited.Construction of the new cargo terminal began in 2008. It was initially scheduled to open in the second half of 2011, but the completion has been deferred to mid 2013 as per Cathay's proposal. An announcement to this end was made by the aoard of the Hong Kong Airport Authority in January 2009.The facility will have an annual capacity of around 2.6 million tons and will increase the airport's total general cargo handling capacity to 7.4 million tons per annum. The new facility is being constructed on a 10ha site in the cargo terminal area and when open will employ 1,700 personnel. The number of general and express cargo operators at HKIA will then increase from three to four. Cathay Pacific's investment in the new facility will be of the order of HK$4.8bn.The cargo terminal will provide an exceptionally high land use efficiency of over 25t/m and will be equipped with a state-of-the-art materials handling system (MHS) to handle the massive throughput.ContractsThe 1.3km-long passenger terminal was engineered and designed by Arup (UK). Their brief included providing concept-engineering / design and detailed design for the architectural steelwork and fire and acoustic engineering. The $1.29bn passenger terminal construction contract was awarded in the first quarter of 1995 to a consortium comprising the China State Construction Engineering Corporation, Kumagai Gumi, Maeda Corporation, Amec, International Construction and Balfour Beatty. Construction began in January 1995.The passenger terminal contract included sub-contracting work to fit the terminal with lifts, escalators, walkways, aircraft loading bridges and air-conditioning facilities. The subcontract for building services within the terminal (worth about $241m) was awarded to a joint venture of Hsin Chong Aster Building Services of Hong Kong, Aster Associate Termoimplanti of Italy and Ellis Mechanical Services of the UK.SubcontractorsTwo subcontracts were awarded by Hong Kong's Provisional Airport Authority (PAA). One, worth HK$96.58m, was given to Ryoden Lift and Escalator Co Ltd of Hong Kong. The other, worth HK$107.96m, was awarded to CNIM of France. A further HK$87m subcontract to build the toll plaza for the Lantau fixed crossing was awarded to Yau Lee Construction Co Ltd, a wholly owned construction unit of Yau Lee Holdings Ltd.Lindner KG of Arnstorf was awarded a contract in April 1995 for the HK$31 supply and erection of 160,000m of metal roofing for the terminal. Paul Y was awarded a HK$467.4m contract for the construction of roads and drainage works related to the airport in April 1995. Wenco constructed the airport's aviation fuel piping system for servicing 70 aircraft bays."Hong Kong International Airport is the fifth busiest in the world."ICL, part of Fujitsu, won a contract worth HK$16.3m to supply an integrated voice and data communications infrastructure. This was awarded in June 1995, with installation beginning in June 1996 and completed in June 1997.The Downer-Paul Y-McAlpine joint venture awarded a HK$21m airfield ground lighting subcontract to Thorn Europhane.SigNet was awarded the contract for the general public address system and DG Edgworthy were consultants for the contract providing documentation and training materials.HKIA enhancements HKIA has been one of the largest engineering and architectural projects in the world. The airport was realised with a total investment of HK$50bn. Recent extensions at the airport include the building of the second terminal, ten new cargo stands, HKIA Tower and the Airport World Trade Centre.To guarantee HKIA's long-term competitiveness a HK$4.5bn enhancement programme has been brought into place. This includes extending the capacity of first terminal, airfield improvements such as the building of the north satellite concourse, reconfiguring the departures immigration hall, adding new taxiways and resurfacing the two runways. The new air cargo terminal under construction will create better aviation support services and more efficient air cargo handling facilities. The additional hangers being built will ensure quality aircraft and business jet maintenance. The burgeoning air traffic created the need for building a third runway at the airport, for which engineering and environmental feasibility studies are now being carried out.A new ferry route has been opened between airport and Nansha Port in Guangzhou. The new route improves connectivity between HKIA and Pearl River Delta (PRD).The airport is investing around HK$90m to add new automated people mover (APM) cars. A total of eight such cars will supplement the existing fleet of 20. By the end of 2009, the new cars will provide better connectivity between the permanent SkyPier, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, and enhance the airport transportation to meet the future demand.Motorola has completed the installation of TETRA (terrestrial trunked radio) digital radio communication system at HKIA in February 2009. The airport authority awarded the contract to replace the existing analogue system with TETRA to Motorola in February 2008.Eight dispatch consoles and three IP base station sites were installed. These provide coverage all over the airport. The new system provides uninterrupted radio communications between the user groups involved in security, baggage, maintenance and other ground handling services.