Hong Kong Airport
| Continent: Asia | Country: China |
| Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok International Airport |
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| Location | Hong Kong, China |
| IATA code | HKG |
| ICAO code | VHHH |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.hkairport.com |
| Overview map | [ ] |
| Communications | |
| Tower | |
| Ground | |
| Clearance | |
| Approach | |
| ATIS | |
Official Spotting Locations
Location
Skydeck above Terminal 2
This is deemed the 'official' spotting point at HKIA. It is located just about a few hundred meters south of the RWY 25R landing path, and the deck itself is on top of a building which is about 30 - 40 meters high. Planes landing on both RWY 25R and RWY 25L can be viewed from here, also a bit apron movements. There is no fence / glasses in front of you and it is just simply a 'building roof' overlooking the airport. Note that the viewing area has no roof-top and also no any facility for instance toilet, food kiosk or even vending machine. Visitors need to go downstairs back to Terminal 2 for drinks, snacks, toilet, etc.
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 1045 (approx.) - 2145 local time Saturday / Sunday / public holiday: 1000 (approx.) - 2145 local time
Not open when thunderstorm warning is up.
Entrance fee: HKD 15.00 (ticket to be bought at entrance of the Aviation Discovery Centre on the 2nd floor of Terminal 2)
Photo opportunity during RWY 25 direction
Planes landing on RWY 25R (majority of the landing movements):
Always high (around 100mm lens for a B777-200 whole body). However, it is only good during morning especially summer time as that would be backlit staring from 2pm onwards. Sample pics for RWY 25R landing viewing from skydeck:
- JetPhotos.net sample photo: large
Planes landing on RWY 25L (some private jets / cargo movements):
As the viewing deck is situated between RWY 25R and 25L landing paths, planes approaching RWY 25L can also taken. You would need a longer lens for that(around 200mm for a B777-200 whole body and more for private jets). However, it is only good during afternoon especially in summer time. Sample pics for RWY 25L landing viewing from skydeck:
- JetPhotos.net sample photo: large
Planes lining up near RWY 25L (all of the take-off movements):
Difficult, as that is distinct from view and with many ground obstruction.
Planes lining up near RWY 25R (During RWY 25L is closed for overnight maintenance):
Possible. But RWY 25L maintenance closure would be finished by approx. 0830 local time, which is before the opening time of skydeck.
Photo opportunity during RWY 07 direction
Planes rotating from RWY 07R (all of the take-off movements):
Possible. But limiting to those long-haul heavies and planes with high loading.
Planes rotating from RWY 07L (During RWY 07R is closed for overnight maintenance):
Possible, but limiting to those long-haul heavies and planes with high loading. RWY 07L maintenance closure would be finished by approx. 0830 local time, which is before the opening time of skydeck.
Other Spotting Locations
South Side Drop-off Area
Access and Transport - Airport Express or MTR to Tung Chung, then change to bus S1 to the Airport terminal building. There are actually two bus stops near the terminal, one just before (which is next to Carpark 2) and one directly under the terminal. The bus stop under the terminal is closer for this spot. To return to Tung Chung, take the bus from the same bus stop (it’s a circular route).
Type of action - 25R arrivals & 25L cargo arrivals (in the distance)
Pros - comfortable, lots of shade, 25R arrivals are frequent, easy access to Airport washrooms, shops and restaurants
Cons - lamp posts get in the way, not particularly close to the planes, cannot see any departures
Near GFS - can see departures of south rwy.
Locations to Avoid
Location
Regular Traffic
Pax A/C
Cathay Pacific all fleets (A330-300, A340-300, B777-200/300/300ER, B747-400)
Dragonair all fleets (A320/A321/A330-300)
China Airlines (B737-800 / A330-300 / A340-300 (occasionally) / B747-400)
China Southern (B737-300/ -800 / A320 / A321 / MD-90 (occasionally) / ERJ-145 (occasionally))
China Eastern (B737-300 / -700 / -800 / A319 / A320 / A321 / A330 (occasionally))
Hong Kong Airlines / Hong Kong Express (B737-800 / A330-200)
Air China (B737-300 / -700 / -800 / A319 / A321 / A330-200 / B777-200ER)
Eva Air (A330-200 / B747-400Combi / B777-300ER (occasionally))
Air Macau (A321, ops for air china)
Air Canada (B777-200LR, B777-300ER)
Air India (B777-200LR, A310 (phasing out soon))
Air Mauritius (A330-200)
Air Niugini (B757-200)
Air Pacific (B767-300ER)
Airasia (A320 *both from Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia subsidiary bases)
Biman Bangladesh (DC-10)
Cebu Pacific Air (A319 / A320)
Delta airlines (A330-200 / B747-400 / B777-200LR)
Ethiopian Airlines (B767-300ER)
Emirates (B777-300 / -300ER / A380-800)
Finnair (A340-300)
Garuda Indonesia (B737-800 / A330-300)
Kenya Airways (B767-300ER)
Kingfisher (A330-200)
Korean Air (B737-800 / -900ER / A330-300 / B777-300 / B747-400Combi)
Malaysia Airlines (B737-400 / A330-300 / B777-200ER)
Mandarin Airlines (ERJ-190)
Nepal Airlines (B757-200 (9N-ACA), B757-200Convertable (9N-ACB))
Orient Thai (B747-300 / occasionally B747-100B (SR/SUD))
Qantas Airways (A330-200 /-300 / B747-400 / -400ER)
Royal Brunei Airlines (A319 / A320 / B767-300ER)
Royal Jordanian (A330-200)
Saudi Arabian (B747-300 / -400)
Shanghai Airlines (B737-800 / B767-300 / -300ER)
Shenzhen Airlines (A319)
Singapore Airlines (B777-200ER / B777-300 / -300ER / A380-800)
Thai Airways (A330-300 / B777-200 / -200ER / -300 / B747-400)
Vietnam Airlines (A321)
Xiamen Airlines (B737-700 / -800 / B757-200)
Cargo A/C
Daytime
Cathay Pacific Cargo (74F / 747-800F(coming soon))
Airbridge Cargo Airlines (74F)
UPS (74F, MD-11F)
Atlas Air (74F)
AeroLogic (B777-200LRF)
Emirates Skycargo (B777-200LRF, 74F)
Hong Kong Airlines cargo (73F, A330-200F (starting Oct 2010))
All Nippon airways (76F)
Lufthansa Cargo (MD-11F)
Kalitta Air (74F)
China Cargo Airlines (A300-600PtF *(China Eastern livery), MD-11F)
Federal Express (MD-11F, A310F)
Donghai Airlines (B73F)
Cargolux (74F)
Cargolux Italia (74F)
Martinair / KLM Cargo (74F)
TNT Airways (74F)
Korean Air (74F)
Singapore Airlines Cargo (74F)
Deccan Cargo & Express (A310F)
Polar Air Cargo (74F)
Malaysia Airlines (74F)
Nippon Cargo Airlines (74F)
Qatar Airways Cargo (B777-200LRF)
Shanghai Airlines Cargo (MD-11F / 75F)
Southern Air (74F / 742F *some ops for Ethiopian Airlines Cargo)
Afterdark / non-frequent services
Aeroflot (MD-11F)
Eva Air Cargo (74F, MD-11F)
China Airlines Cargo (74F)
Saudi Arabian (74F / MD-11F)
Southern Air / Thai Cargo (B777-200LRF)
Polet (IL-96-400T)
D.E.T.A. Air JSC (DC-10F)
Jett8 Airlines Cargo (74F)
Asiana Airlines (74F / 76F)
Finnair Cargo (MD-11BCF)
Jade Cargo Int'l Co. Ltd (74F)
Air Hong Kong / DHL (A300-600F)
Transmile Air Services (72F)
DHL (76F)
Yangtze River Express (73F)
Facilities and Transportation
Ground Transportation
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is one of the airports in the world that has an extremely high public transport usage, which more than 90% of airport trips are made by public transportation. Thanks to the efficient public transport network in Hong Kong, passengers / workers can easily reach the airport nearly at any place in Hong Kong by buses in 7 days a week. There are also a plenty of overnight bus services linking up several major towns and the airport. More, the Airport Express Line (AEL) links downtown Hong Kong (Central) and West Kowloon area with frequent train service.
Facilities
Terminal 1
Terminal 1 is the main terminal of HKIA which with direct linkage to the airside. Majority of the airlines check-in facilities are located in this terminal, and both the departure and arrival hall are provided with shops, cafe, restaurants of budget to high level, post office kiosk, bank ATM, etc etc.
Terminal 2
Terminal 2 is a new terminal which was opened in June 2007, and is located just East of the Terminal 1. Since all the airside facilities of HKIA is located on the West side of the airport island, there is no direct linkage of Terminal 2 and the airside beside an automatic-people-mover (APM) system. Passengers who finish the check-in process in terminal 2 can have the immigration and security checks underneath the Terminal 2, and then take the APM back to terminal 1 (airside) and continue to the gates. Note that there is no arriving passenger for terminal 2, all the passengers are arriving at terminal 1. Terminal 2 is more filled with an entertainment atmosphere, which the proportion of shops / entertainment facilities vs. air-related facilities is higher.