Hong Kong International Airport is the sole passenger airport for the densely populated administrative region of Hong Kong. Hong Kong borders China allowing a land crossing to Shenzhen and, as such, is an essential location for international business and trade. With the airport being one of the busiest in the world in terms of passenger numbers, and the busiest for cargo, make sure you read our Hong Kong Airport guide to know everything you need to before you go!
Hong Kong Airport plays a vital role in Asia, and on an international stage, with more than 180 cities served by over 100 airlines. Several airlines, including Singapore Airlines and Air India, use the airport for layovers on their routes, but Hong Kong airport is all about Cathay Pacific. The Hong Kong flag-carrier and Oneworld member use the airport as its hub, together with their subsidiary airline, Cathay Dragon.
The airport itself is built on reclaimed land and looks as though it is a floating island when viewed from above. Best get a window seat to check out the views when you fly into or out of Hong Kong Airport! The airport, known locally as Chek Lap Kok, replaced the old Kai Tak Airport that had the famous banked landing. Despite the limited land the airport has to build on, growth has been persistent ever since its opening in 1998. A second terminal, a satellite terminal, additional runways, and construction of Cathay Pacific’s head office, have all led to the airport’s continued passenger traffic increase. The airport is as dynamic as the region it serves, so even if you have visited before, read on to learn even more!
Hong Kong Airport At-a-glance
Official Website: https://www.hongkongairport.com/
Airport Code: HKG
Terminals: 2, plus 2 satellite ‘concourses’
Address: 1 Sky Plaza Rd,
Chek Lap Kok,
Hong Kong
Gate Checker: https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/flights/departures/passenger.page
Terminal Checker: https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/flights/airlines-information/airlines.page
Contact Number: +852 2181 8888
Timezone: GMT+8 all year (no daylight savings)
Lost Property Contact:
Email: Lost-f@hkairport.com
Phone: +852 2182 2018
Map: https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/map/
An interactive 2D map that allows zooming in and out of the entire airport with floor selection, filters, and search functionality.
WiFi: Free WiFi is available throughout the airport. The network name is ‘#HKAirport Free WiFi’.
Apps: Hong Kong Airport has a free app for both Android and iOS.
Hong Kong Airport Facilities
It is less a question of what facilities does Hong Kong Airport have, and more what facilities doesn’t it have? In addition to the regular amenities all major airports host, Hong Kong Airport also is home to an IMAX cinema, an aviation centre, 24-hour lounges, and indoor golf. Of course, all passengers will be able to find currency conversion, free WiFi, free water fountains, multi-faith rooms, (many) restaurants, cafes, bars, duty-free shopping, high-end shops, children’s play areas, and over 3,500 charging points. All in all, there is pretty much everything a traveller could need.
There a few airports in the world where a layover or an early arrival could be a good thing; Hong Kong is one of them though. The airport has many facilities open all day and night so passengers can keep themselves entertained no matter what time they arrive. The downside is that there is a lot of noise overnight for those looking to sleep or for a quiet area to rest.
For full relaxation, though, passengers can make use of the on-site spa where massages, manicures, and blow-drys are available with prior booking. The Aviation Discovery Centre has free entry for all and is a must-see for plane enthusiasts. For those looking for something a little more exciting, there is a flight simulator in the centre too, allowing visitors to virtually land a plane! If planes aren’t of interest, the i-Sports facility offers virtual basketball, skiing, football and more in a simulator. It is separate to the GreenLive virtual golf simulator attraction in the same terminal.
Sleeping passengers have multiple options available to them. The Plaza Premium Lounge at Terminal 1 (Gate 35) is open 24hrs. Overnight travellers could make use of the additional comfort to rest. For privacy, however, the airport has two on-site options and multiple airports nearby. Refreshhh allows Terminal 1 travellers short term stays for a freshen up in what is essentially day-room access. Passengers can find a more traditional hotel experience at the Regal Airport Hotel which connects to Terminal 1. The Regal Airport Hotel also offers day-room access for those looking for a short term sleeping solution.
If any passengers would prefer to get away from the airport, or for lower-priced deals, searching ‘Hong Kong Airport’ on either Booking.com or Hotels.com will bring up the local results and the very best prices.
Shower facilities at the airport are free in two areas of the airport. Multiple lounges also have shower access for those travelling with access to them and would provide the added convenience of towels and toiletries for those travelling light. However, the free showers in the airport do have complimentary shampoo and shower gel, plus a hairdryer. Both free shower facilities are in Terminal 1. One is near Gate 12, on the Arrivals Level, and the other is near Gate 43, also on the Arrivals Level.
Luggage storage is chargeable by the hour or by the day with a flat fee for all standard-sized items for up to 30 days. The airport deems any bag with dimensions under 199cm (combining length, width, and height) and/or under 30kg as standard baggage. Anything over these dimensions or weight will face additional charges, detailed here. For regular items, the rate is HK$12 per hour or HK$140 per day. The airport applies whichever fee is lower when storing luggage so that the passenger would pay HK$140 day rate when leaving a bag for 12 hours, rather than 12x HK$12 hourly fee.
Hong Kong Airport Terminal Layout
The term terminal at Hong Kong airport can be applied loosely depending on how a passenger defines an airport terminal. There are officially two terminals, Terminal 1, and Terminal 2. Further to these, there are two concourses, the ‘North Satellite Concourse’, and the ‘Midfield Concourse’. Both concourses are separate buildings from Terminal 1, but accessible from T1. Terminal 2, however, handles no flights either inbound or outbound and only has check-in facilities before passengers move on to the departure gates at, or via Terminal 1.
A consistent piece of praise for Hong Kong airport is the speed of passport control. With so many international flights, it is in the airport’s interest to not have many people queueing up, and so it is unusual for anyone to wait more than 15 minutes to make it through immigration.
Terminal 1
When Terminal 1 opened back in 1998, it was the largest airport passenger terminal on the planet. It held the title for a decade before Beijing’s Terminal 3 overtook it (which subsequently lost out to Dubai’s own Terminal 3). Nonetheless, the terminal is vast, and passengers should allow adequate time to reach their boarding gate or satellite terminal. The departure lounge homes most of the concessions, food stalls, and duty-free on the other side from the check-in facilities. The airport then branches off into a Y shaped concourse where the departure gates can are found (on level 6).
Terminal 2
Terminal 2 is currently closed as it is undergoing redevelopment so it can facilitate air traffic. The terminal is away from Terminal 1 with passengers transported between each underground. Terminal 2 is where shoppers can find the SkyPlaza centre, which has many shops and entertainment facilities, primarily for business travellers. The SkyPier is also here, which allows passengers flying into Hong Kong to board ferry services (or vice versa) at the airport without ever having to immigrate into Hong Kong itself.
North Satellite Concourse
As the name suggests, this is a satellite building used for some departures and arrivals. Boarding Gates 501-510 are situated here. Passengers can ride a shuttle bus between the ‘NSC’ and Terminal 1 which departs every four minutes. Although there are some amenities in this concourse, travellers will find that Terminal 1 itself has many more options so they should only move here closer to their departure time. The airport has a bridge that will connect the North Satellite Concourse to Terminal one for foot traffic, due to open in 2020.
Midfield Concourse
Also a satellite building, but accessible via underground people movers, the Midfield Concourse has better options than the North Satellite Concourse for passengers over its five levels. Geographically it is west of Terminal 1, and the ‘tips’ of T1’s Y shaped concourses correspond with the extremities of the Midfield Concourse building. Passengers will find Gates 201-230 in this concourse.
Hong Kong Airport Connections
Hong Kong Airport has excellent connections to the wider area, allowing passengers a decent choice of transport to get to to a destination in Hong Kong, or further afield. The Central area, on the north of Hong Kong island, is around 30km east of the airport. This guide details the best options to get to the Central district of Hong Kong, though many other townships and settlements in the region are accessible from the airport that travellers can access.
Bus: The public bus is the cheapest way to get to Central, but it will take a long time. The buses are less frequent than the Airport Express train, though passengers can split the difference and reduce their cost by catching the S1 bus to the Tung Chung MTR Station and join the MTR to Central on the same train line for a lower fare. The standard bus fare will vary depending on how quick passengers need their journey to be, but they can expect to pay from HK$20 to HK$50, with an 80 minute travel time.
Train: The fastest and most convenient way for passengers to make it from the airport to Central, as well as Tsing Yi and Kowloon, is by using the Airport Express MTR (Mass Transit Rail) line. The train departs from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 every 10 minutes throughout the day (until 11:30 pm) and has a journey time of 24 minutes when travelling the complete line to Hong Kong Station. Tickets are HK$115, or slightly cheaper if getting off at an earlier stop.
Car: Hong Kong is relatively unusual for airports in that it has no vehicle hire locations on its premises. Those looking to hire a car for their time in Hong Kong would need to make use of car hire locations elsewhere in Hong Kong.
Taxi: There are taxis available for hire from the Taxi Station, which is outside of the Arrivals Hall and close to the ramp on the left-hand side. Three variations of taxis operate in Hong Kong and at the airport, distinguished by their paint colour. Green coloured taxis drive to destinations in the New Territories, Blue are for the rest of Lantau island, and red will go to Hong Kong Islands, Kowloon, and most other areas. Most passengers will make use of the red taxis which have a charge of HK$320-$380 to get to Hong Kong Island with a ride time of around 35 minutes.
Connections
Any passengers making a connection at Hong Kong Airport need not worry about their connection time if they have purchased tickets directly through the airline or with a travel agency. Any layover will have taken into consideration the transit time between gates at the airport already, and all luggage will be transferred to the next flight automatically. Even if there was a delay or a problem that is not the passenger’s fault, it is the responsibility of the airline to offer alternative transportation to their final destination.
If instead, a passenger is transitting via Hong Kong on a self-transfer, then they must consider the minimum connection time. The airport and Cathay Pacific publish this as 50 minutes. However, this would be when the passenger has their onward travel boarding pass and does not need to collect and re-check-in luggage. In this case, passengers must clear passport control twice, and, although Hong Kong Airport has short queuing times, this will add time to the connection. Also, baggage must be reclaimed and checked in once again. We would recommend at least 2-2.5 hours for a connection if self-transferring.
Hong Kong Airport Lounges
Passengers looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the busy Hong Kong Airport will be happy to know there are many airport lounges, both by airlines and independent allowing walk-ins. As one might expect, Cathay Pacific has several lounges at their home airport, giving their passengers multiple choices to choose from. Note that all the lounges are airside (i.e. after security) and so those without a flight ticket will not be able to enter.
Terminal 1 Lounges
Plaza Premium First (this lounge has shower facilities)
Located near Gate 1 on level 6
Plaza Premium Lounge Gate 1 (this lounge has shower facilities)
Located near Gate 1 on level 6
Cathay Pacific The Wing Business/First Class Lounge (this lounge has shower facilities)
Located near Gate 2 on level 6
SkyTeam Lounge (this lounge has shower facilities)
Located near Gate 5 on level 6
Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Class Lounge (this lounge has shower facilities)
Located near Gate 5 on level 6
The Qantas Hong Kong Lounge (this lounge has shower facilities)
Located up the escalators near Gate 5 on level 7
Cathay Pacific The Deck (this lounge has shower facilities)
Located up the escalators near Gate 6 on level 7
Hong Kong Airlines VIP Lounge (this lounge has shower facilities)
Located near Gates 23-25 on level 6
CNAC VIP Lounge (this lounge has shower facilities)
Located near Gate 25 on level 6
Plaza Premium Lounge Gate 35 (this lounge has paid for shower facilities)
Located near Gate 35 on level 6
Cathay Pacific The Bridge (this lounge has shower facilities)
Located near Gate 35 on level 6
The Emirates Lounge (this lounge has shower facilities)
Located near Gate 40 on level 6
Thai Airways Royal Orchid/First Class Lounge (this lounge has shower facilities)
Located near Gate 40 on level 6
Plaza Premium Lounge Gate 60 (this lounge has shower facilities)
Located up the escalators near Gate 60 on level 7
The Centurion Lounge (this lounge has shower facilities)
Located up the escalators near Gate 60 on level 7
United Airlines United Club (this lounge has shower facilities)
Located up the escalators near Gate 61 on level 7
Cathay Pacific The Pier Business/First Class Lounge (this lounge has shower facilities)
Located near Gate 63 on level 6
Midfield Concourse Lounges
Hong Kong Airlines VIP Lounge (this lounge has shower facilities)
Located near Gate 212 on level 7