Hong Kong International Airport Facts for Kids

Hong Kong International Airport Passenger Terminal Building Apron

Interior of the terminal

The Hong Kong International Airport (often called HKG or VHHH) is also known as Chek Lap Kok Airport. It is the main airport for Hong Kong. This huge airport was built on Lantau Island at a place called Chek Lap Kok. It first opened its doors in 1998.

This airport is one of the best in the world! It has won the "World Airport of the Year" award many times. It is a main base, or "hub," for airlines like Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines, Hong Kong Express, and Air Hong Kong. It is super busy, especially for cargo (things shipped by air). It's the busiest in the world for cargo and the third busiest for international passengers!

The airport has great connections to the city. There are modern highways and a special train system. Building this airport was one of the biggest projects ever! It was even shown on Discovery Channel. A famous architect named Norman Foster designed it. The airport was built to handle much more air traffic than the old Kai Tak Airport could. It is still considered one of the top airports globally, like Singapore's Changi Airport and Seoul's Incheon International Airport.

Hong Kong International Airport: Your Gateway to the World
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Hong Kong International Airport: Your Gateway to the World

A World-Class Airport

Hong Kong International Airport is a truly amazing place. It's known for being very efficient and modern. Many people from all over the world travel through it every day. The airport helps connect Hong Kong to cities across the globe.

Awards and Recognition

This airport has won many awards. It has been named "World Airport of the Year" by Skytrax seven times in ten years. This shows how good it is at serving travelers. These awards mean it offers excellent services and facilities.

A Hub for Airlines

An airport "hub" is like a main base for airlines. Many flights start or end here. Hong Kong International Airport is a key hub for several major airlines. These include Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines, Hong Kong Express, and Air Hong Kong. This means you'll see many of their planes here.

Busy Skies and Cargo

The airport is incredibly busy. It handles a huge number of international passengers. It's the third busiest airport in the world for these travelers. But it's even busier for cargo! It's the number one airport globally for moving goods by air. This makes it very important for trade and business.

Building a Giant: How It Was Made

The construction of Hong Kong International Airport was a massive project. It was one of the biggest building jobs in the world. The airport was built on a new piece of land. This land was created by joining a small island called Chek Lap Kok with another island.

Why a New Airport?

Before this airport, Hong Kong used Kai Tak Airport. Kai Tak was in the middle of the city. It was very small and couldn't handle many planes. It was also quite dangerous for pilots due to tall buildings nearby. So, Hong Kong needed a bigger, safer airport. The new airport was designed to handle a lot more flights and passengers.

Amazing Design

The airport was designed by a very famous architect, Norman Foster. He is known for creating modern and impressive buildings. The airport's design is not just beautiful but also very practical. It helps people move through the airport easily.

Connecting to the City

Getting to and from Hong Kong International Airport is easy. It has a very advanced transport system. This system links the airport directly to the city center.

Highways and Railways

There are special highways built for the airport. These roads make it fast to drive to the city. There is also a special train called the Airport Express. This train takes passengers quickly and comfortably to the heart of Hong Kong. These connections are part of what makes the airport so efficient.

Images for kids

View of the airport from the Ngong Ping 360 cable car
Map showing the reclaimed land of Lantau Island, Lam Chau and Chek Lap Kok.
A front view of Hong Kong Airport
The exterior of Hong Kong International Airport at night
The airport control tower and a taxiing Cathay Pacific Cargo Boeing 747-8F
The view of the airport from the control tower, with an EVA Air Boeing 747 on a nearby taxiway
The interior of the airport control tower
Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre
Terminal 1
Baggage Reclaim Hall
SuperTerminal 1
Asia Airfreight Terminal
DHL Central Asia Hub
Cross-boundary coach bus terminal located in terminal 2
Skypier
Airport Express, which connects the airport and the central business district of Central.
Airport Express connecting between the airport and the central business district of Central.
Airport Express – Airport station
Terminal 1 Departures Hall entrance
The interior of Terminal 1 at night
Check-in counters at Terminal 1
Level 5 – Arrivals Hall
SkyPlaza at the Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 2 ceiling
SkyPlaza at the Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 2
SkyPlaza, Hong Kong International Airport (Hong Kong)
Exterior view of Hong Kong Airport Satellite Terminal. Connection by airport shuttle bus to main terminal travelling along marked roadway at bottom left.
Interior view of Satellite Terminal, Hong Kong Airport. Escalator leads up from bus connection to main terminal building.
Interior view of Satellite Terminal, Hong Kong Airport. Central internet kiosk with coffee shop behind.
SkyBridge connecting Terminal 1 with North Satellite Concourse
Aerial view of Midfield Concourse, Hong Kong International Airport.
Interior view of Midfield Concourse
Interior view of sitting area
Interior view of Automated People Mover Platform
Control tower seen from a taxiing aircraft
Super Terminal 1
View of the outside (seen from the control tower)