Third Runway of the three-runway System (3RS) comes alive at Hong Kong International Airport , Cathay Pacific first Airline to land !

Three-runway System (3RS) project at Hong Kong International Airport 

After 10 years , the Plan has become a reality - the third Runway or name it as the new North Runway (07L/25R) of the Three-runway System (3RS) came  alive  in the early hours of  8th July 2022  , at Hong Kong  International  Airport.

• The third runway will become the new North runway and take over the 07L/25R designation.
• Once third Runway is operational , the middle runway (07C/25C) will close down for 2 yrs for construction.
• In the future , 07L/25R will handle landings , 07C/25C will handle take offs, and 07R/25L will do both.

Cathay Pacific Airways's Boeing 747-467F ( Regd. B-LIF) freighter became the first commercial aircraft to land on Hong Kong's 3,800-metre-long and 60-metre-wide Third Runway.

The 3RS Plan !

In March 2012 , the Hong Kong Government approved in principle that the option of expanding into a 3RS be adopted as the future development option for HKIA for planning purpose.

The Airport Authority Hong Kong (“AAHK”) was asked to proceed with the related planning work , which included the statutory environmental impact assessment, the associated design details, and the financial arrangement of the project.

The Project !

The Executive Council affirmed the need for the 3RS project at HKIA on 17 March 2015 . Thereafter, AAHK had been actively taking forward the project for completion on time, which they have been successful till date.

The construction of 3RS , which commenced in August 2016 , comprised different components for development , including

• Formation of about 650 hectares of land ;
• Construction of the Third Runway, taxiways and aprons , and
• The Third Runway Passenger Building ;
• Expansion of the existing Terminal 2 ;
• Provisions of a new automated people mover system and a high-speed baggage handling system ;
• Modification of the existing North Runway ;
• And construction of airport support infrastructure, utilities and facilities .

Estimates and Funding !

Based on AAHK’s original estimates , the 3RS project was expected to cost around HK$141.5 billion in money-of-the-day prices. AAHK had planned to fund the project through three distinct sources :

► Retaining AAHK’s operating surplus (HK$47 billion) ;

► Levying an  Airport Construction Fee (“ACF”) (HK$26 billion) ; and

► Borrowing / raising funds from the market (HK$69 billion) .

Completion and Commissioning !

On 21 April 2022 , AAHK announced that the flight check of the Third Runway has been satisfactorily completed in April 2022 and that the global aviation community was informed that the Third Runway (07L/25R) at HKIA was ready for commencing operation.

AAHK and the Civil Aviation Department were working closely together on other preparation work , including statutory procedures, drills and exercises for the commissioning of the Third Runway.

Ontime , Despite Covid-19 Slowdown !

According to initial plan of the  AAHK , the construction works would take around eight years to complete . The commissioning of the Third Runway was scheduled for 2022, which is a reality now, as of Today !

Henceforth , the existing North Runway would be closed for reconfiguration. The full commissioning of 3RS has been targeted in 2024.

Source : Airport Authority Hong Kong (“AAHK”).