Hong Kong International Airport (香港國際機場 IATA: HKG), also known as Chek Lap Kok Airport (赤鱲角機場) (after the island upon which the airport sits), is located just off Lantau Island in western Hong Kong. In 2018, it was the 8th busiest airport worldwide by passenger traffic.
Those who remember the daredevil approach of aircraft prior to landing at the old Kai Tak Airport don't need to guess why Hong Kong decided to build a new airport somewhere else. The Kai Tak Airport was the primary hub for air travel until the 1990s. With only a single runway, one terminal building too small, hills that made takeoff and landing tricky, and sharp turns at low altitude so close to high rise residential buildings that passengers could see residents eating dinners during landings were just a few of the drawbacks. Moreover, due to Kai Tak's proximity to residential areas, a curfew had to be in place in the late night and early morning hours, thus limiting its capacity.
A new airport was eventually built at Chek Lap Kok in the north of Lantau Island, joining three of its northern islands into what is now a world class airport. Designed by Sir Norman Foster, the airport opened in July 1998 and has since been named "World's Best Airport" by Skytrax eight times.
Hong Kong is a global aviation hub. Most major cities in Europe and North America are all served with at least one daily flight, and flights between Hong Kong and other major cities in Asia and Oceania are frequent. Cathay Pacific operates one of the longest air routes in the world, between Hong Kong and New York City (JFK). It is the primary hub for Hong Kong's flag carrier Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines and low-cost carrier Hong Kong Express.
Due to the special status of Hong Kong, flights to mainland Chinese cities are treated as international rather than domestic flights. As a result of the territory’s rather small size, all flights from the airport are international, and there are no domestic flights.
If you have paid the fare for the Airport Express train, you can check-in your luggage and print boarding passes at the airport check-in desks at the Hong Kong and Kowloon MTR stations. Some airlines such as Cathay Pacific allow you to drop off your bags up to one day before travel and not have to deal with luggage as you enjoy your final day in Hong Kong. To enter the check-in areas, you must scan your airport express ticket or Octopus card and the fare will be deducted immediately. However, you do not need to enter the airport express station immediately. You can go and do other things, then the same ticket/card will give you free access to airport express on your next entry.
Terminal 2 closed for redevelopment on 28 November 2019. It will not reopen until around 2024. All airlines based in Terminal 2 have relocated to Terminal 1. Airport Express trains no longer open their doors on the T2 side of the train.
Each airline uses a specific check-in aisle:
Terminal 1
Hong Kong is one of the few major cities in the world where you can get between the city centre and the airport in less than 30 minutes via the Airport Express. There are also plenty of other cheaper options.
The Airport Express is the quickest, most comfortable way to travel between airport and city. Trains run every 10 min 6AM-12:45AM, taking about 30 min. For adults (aged 12+), single fares (which cover same-day return) are $70 to Tsing Yi, $105 to Kowloon, and $115 to Hong Kong Central Station. Returns valid for 30 days are $120, $185 and $205 respectively; fares for children aged 3-11 are about half. There's no ticket barrier at the airport, so you can just board and pay in the city. All stations have free porters to help you get heavy bags on and off of the train; there is no need to tip. If you travel with other people you can get a group discount if you buy your ticket from the staff at the counter. If you take a taxi to reach the airport express, you are entitled to a 50% discount (dead link: December 2020) when boarding in Tsing Yi and Kowloon. Tourist travel passes sometimes include a return journey on the Airport Express and some airlines sell duty-free tickets during the flights. A cheap way to get to Central is to take the Airport Express to Tsing Yi, and change to the Tung Chung MTR line, which costs in total $72.5 one-way or $135 return. A free connection from the Airport Express to the MTR is offered if you use the same Octopus Card to change from the Airport Express to the MTR at Central, Kowloon, or Tsing Yi stations. The transfer is free no matter which station you exit the MTR. Free shuttle buses (dead link: January 2023) to most major hotels around Kowloon and Hong Kong Island were also provided for users of the Airport Express, though this has since been discontinued from 30 June 2020 due to COVID-19.
Kowloon Station on the Airport Express line is located next to West Kowloon high-speed rail station and connected by pedestrian walkways, making it easy to transfer from the airport to a high-speed train if you intend to head elsewhere in the Pearl River Delta. The downside is that unlike taking a ferry from the airport, you do have to pass through Hong Kong customs and immigration to do this.
If you want to save around $70, an alternative way is to take the S1 bus (dead link: January 2023) from the airline terminal to the nearby Tung Chung MTR station ($3.50, 15 minutes), where you can transfer to the Tung Chung MTR line to Kowloon ($18, 27 minutes) or Hong Kong ($24, 30 minutes). The Tung Chung line runs the same route as the Airport Express except it terminates at the Tung Chung station and has four additional stops. The MTR system has luggage restrictions and in any case, carrying luggage on the MTR may be cumbersome. This method will take about 45-60 minutes more than the Airport Express.
Buses are cheap ($10-40), more scenic, have longer operating hours but are slower. Depending on where you are going, they may be more convenient than the trains and some routes run 24 hours (unlike the Airport Express). A complete list of airport buses is available online. There is also an information board at the airport bus terminal. Two companies run buses from the airport: Citybus ('CityFlyer') (dead link: January 2023) and Long Win. Buses travel over the scenic Tsing Ma Bridge, the seventh-longest suspension bridge in the world. Buses with routes beginning with "A" (Airbus) (cost: $20-40) have free Wi-Fi internet and take a more direct route than buses with routes beginning with the letter "E" (External) (cost: $10-20), which travel via the cargo terminals and airport offices. Buses with routes beginning with "S" (cost: $3-4) are shuttle buses: the S1 bus operates bus service to the closest MTR station. Bus route "B4" is for cross-border and stops at Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge. This route is particularly useful if you are heading towards Macau or Zhuhai. Finally, bus routes beginning with "N" are overnight routes. They tend to be more expensive, less frequent and take a less direct route (often going through cargo area, airline catering section and mail centre) before heading for the highway.
Taxis are a relatively expensive option, with a journey from the airport to Central costing $250-350. The taxi area is clearly signposted near the Airport Express and has separate queues next for each taxi colour:
The information desk after customs can provide you with an estimate to your hotel and maps to show the driver. See official taxi fare table. The rates for blue and green taxis are cheaper than red taxis.
Do not take private cars and vans operating as illegal taxis since they are not licensed and in case of accidents, your insurance will not cover you. Generally they are operated by non-Chinese and will be in white or black vans, rather than the ubiquitous blue and red Toyota Crown Comforts. They will approach you inside the airport.
Taxi queues are available at both Kowloon and Hong Kong stations, although the queues are very long at weekends.
There are no ferry services from the airport to destinations in Hong Kong. However, Turbojet ($254, 50 minutes) and Cotai Water Jet ($270) operate services directly to Macau. Additional destinations include Dongguan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Zhongshan.
To get to the ferries after you land, do not go through Hong Kong customs and immigration. Instead, follow the signs for "Ferries to Mainland/Macao" to find the ticket counter, where you can buy your ticket with credit card or cash (HKD; RMB are accepted at the unfavorable rate of 1 RMB=1 HKD). There are currency exchange places on the way to the ferry ticket counter. You need to show your boarding pass to buy the ticket. If you have checked luggage, present your baggage stub when buying the ticket and they will transfer your luggage for you—in this case you have to buy your ferry ticket 60 minutes before the ferry departs (in other words, leave yourself a solid 90 minutes between landing and the ferry departure). When it's time to board, you can travel directly to SkyPier for your ferry without having to pass through Hong Kong immigration at all.
Again, if you're taking the ferry, don't go through immigration or collect your luggage—the staff will collect your luggage for you once you buy the ticket and give them the baggage stub. If you do pass through immigration by mistake then the train journey to the Hong Kong ferry terminal will take you about another hour (with a significant connecting walk between trains in Central station), so taking this direct ferry is a great option.
The ferries to Macau from the airport only run a few times a day. If they are not convenient for your schedule, you can take TurboJET's Premier Plus service. ($461) Buy this at the same counter before Hong Kong immigration. This departs much more frequently (every 30-60 minutes) and includes car transfer to the Sheung Wan ferry terminal, ferry to Macau, then car transfer to any location of your choice in Macau. Food and drink on the ferry is included in the price. Staff will accompany you all the way and carry your luggage for you. You will need to pass Hong Kong immigration so ensure you have the correct documents.
Ferries to Shenzhen stop at either Shekou (the city's main ferry terminal) or Fuyong Ferry Terminal. This second option is located close to Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport and connected by a 5 min shuttle bus ride. This makes it a convenient option if you need to connect between flights at Hong Kong and Shenzhen airports. Be sure to give yourself ample time to make any connections, preferably at least 6 hours between your two flights. Prices as of 2019: HK$220 to Shekou, $295 to Fuyong, $340 from Shekou to HKIA, and $360 from Fuyong to HKIA. When taking the ferry to the airport, you can collect a departure tax refund after getting off—HK$120 as of 2019.
Car rental services are provided in the airport complex. They provide airport pickup and drop off services and can be booked prior to the flight.
Chauffeur service is an expensive way to travel to and from the airport, which is dedicated to business travellers, and it ranges from $400 to $1000. Services feature a point-to-point travel by luxury cars or MPVs. Services are usually provided by bank credit card concierges, hotels and airlines. Chauffeur service usually requires advanced booking and individual price quoting. Drivers will meet at the exit of the arrival hall and hold a card with your name. Never ride cars of those who ask you in the airport. They are illegal and accidents are not covered by insurance.
Terminal 1 consists of a large Y-shaped pier, with check-in and security located at the bottom of the "Y". All check-in counters are located at Terminal 1. After security, your flight may board from Terminal 1, the Midfield Concourse, or the North Satellite Concourse. An automated people mover runs between the east and west ends of Terminal 1, and to the Midfield Concourse. A shuttle bus is provided for passengers heading to the North Satellite Concourse. Terminal 2 closed in 2019 for redevelopment.
A number of airline lounges are closed until further notice; details here.
Hong Kong International Airport is known for housing a number of renowned eateries, some of them of Michelin quality. Virtually all of them, however, are landside. There are restaurants airside as well, but most of them fast food parlours such as McDonald's.
There are drinking water fountains in the departures area. A few of these are machines that offer a choice of cold, warm or boiling water.
Hong Kong has no duty on most goods besides alcohol, therefore the concept of duty-free in the airport is rather meaningless. Nevertheless there is the usual selection of luxury brands on the air side, as well as opportunities for last-minute souvenirs such as Chinese cookies and a large Disney store.
If you need to pick up any last-minute necessities before going through security, you can visit the shops just beyond the Terminal 1 check-in desks. This area has a variety of shops selling useful travel goods, e.g. toiletries and medication (Mannings), light snacks (7-Eleven), or fresh clothing (Muji).
Services at Hong Kong International Airport are generally far better, or at least on par, with those at other major international airports. If you need help, visit one of the 11 customer service centres, approach an Airport Ambassador, or pick up one of the 220 courtesy phones located throughout the terminal.
Staff are tolerant of passengers sleeping in the airport. Airside is safer and more comfortable than landside.
There are three hotels in the immediate vicinity of the airport. Via the Airport Express train, you can access more hotels in central Hong Kong very quickly.
In addition to the Novotel Citygate, there are several new hotels under construction in Tung Chung. The 206-room Silveri Hong Kong, operated by French hotel company AccorHotels, is expected to open in early 2020 as part of an expansion to the CityGate shopping centre. In addition, the "Sheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung Hotel" and "Four Points by Sheraton Hong Kong, Tung Chung" were expected to open in late 2019. Owned by a Shanghai-based conglomerate, the two hotels occupy a combined development in a somewhat inconvenient location near the Tung Chung waterfront, far from the MTR station. However, the airport is easily reached by taxi.
Primary administrative division