Upgraded Terminal 2 poised to open, cementing Hong Kong's aviation hub status

HONG KONG, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong International Airport's expanded Terminal 2 departures hall will officially open on May 27 following a 12.9 billion-Hong Kong-dollar upgrade, marking another milestone in consolidating the city's status as a global aviation hub, its operator announced at a launch ceremony on Friday.

Serving as Hong Kong's key gateway for international travellers and a showcase of its multicultural charm, the airport will embrace fresh growth momentum upon the terminal's opening, said Fred Lam, chairman of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK).

The AAHK will collaborate with industry stakeholders to advance the airport's transformation into Skytopia, a megadevelopment offering experiences that spanned land, water and air, and further boost Hong Kong's economic vitality, Lam noted.

Hong Kong International Airport recorded 61 million passenger trips in 2025, up 15 percent year-on-year, said Michael Wong Wai-lun, acting financial secretary of the HKSAR government.

He added that authorities will solidify Hong Kong's position as a global aviation hub by expanding flight networks, optimizing transportation connections across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, pressing ahead with Skytopia development and aligning local growth with national planning.

Terminal 2 is designed to handle 30 million passenger trips annually. Combined with Terminal 1's annual capacity of 70 million, the airport's total passenger throughput will hit 100 million per year, greatly lifting Hong Kong's overall core competitiveness, noted Steven Yiu, executive director of Airport Operations at the AAHK.

Equipped with intelligent check-in, baggage drop and security screening facilities, the new terminal features seamless railway connectivity, access to 29 bus routes and more than 1,000 parking spaces.

Fifteen airlines, including three local carriers, will start relocating their operations to Terminal 2 in phases starting May 27, with the relocation work scheduled to be completed by June 10.

Terminal 2 was closed in late 2019 for expansion works linked to the three-runway system, and partial facilities were reopened last September. Enditem