Hong Kong International Airport 2025: Transportation guide, flight routes & amenities

Hong Kong International Airport is one of Asia's strategic aviation hubs, serving as an important gateway connecting the region with the world. This major airport not only impresses with its enormous scale and modern design, but also stands out with its synchronized amenity service system, smooth passenger experience, and operational capacity among the highest in the region. The following article will provide the most comprehensive and updated overview of Hong Kong International Airport as of 2025.

1. General information about the airport

• Airport name: Hong Kong International Airport (Sân bay Quốc tế Hồng Kông)
• Airport code:

• IATA code: HKG
• ICAO code: VHHH

• Address: 1 Sky Plaza Rd, Chek Lap Kok (Xích Liệp Giáp), Hong Kong (Hồng Kông)
• Distance to city center: 34km
• Time zone: UTC+8
• Airport type: Civil and commercial airport

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), also known as Chek Lap Kok Airport, officially began operations in 1998. The facility was built on an artificial island offshore, reclaimed from sea areas, thereby expanding Hong Kong's territory by approximately 1%.

HKIA was created to replace the old Kai Tak Airport. After just a short period of operation, HKIA quickly developed into one of the world's most modern and bustling aviation centers, serving millions of passengers annually and playing the role of an important trade gateway between Asia and the world.

Hong Kong International Airport (Source: Internet)

2. Airport scale

Hong Kong International Airport has a total area of 1,905 hectares. This is home to one of the world's largest terminal buildings.

2.1. Runways and apron

Hong Kong International Airport currently has 3 operational runways. All are designed to meet Category F standards, capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft and the largest sizes, including the Airbus A380:

• North runway 07L/25R: 3,800m x 60m
• South runway 07R/25L: 3,800m x 60m
• Center runway 07C/25C: 4,225m x 60m

Regarding the apron, HKIA currently has a total of 172 aircraft parking positions, clearly divided according to usage purpose:

• Near-terminal parking area: 77 positions, usually reserved for commercial flights, convenient for passengers to board and disembark directly at gates
• Remote parking area: 42 positions, located outside the terminal area, passengers need to travel by dedicated buses
• Cargo parking area: 55 positions, serving exclusively cargo flights

The airport has 3 operational runways, capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft and the largest sizes (Source: Internet)

2.2. Passenger terminals

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is currently operating one main passenger terminal, Terminal 1 (T1), combined with midfield and satellite concourses to serve increasing operational demands. Additionally, Terminal 2 (T2) is also being expanded on a large scale, expected to enhance passenger reception and distribution capacity in the coming period.

TERMINAL T1

With a total area of 570,000m², Terminal T1 currently serves as the pillar in operational activities at Hong Kong International Airport, capable of serving up to 61 million passengers annually.

General information:

• Area: 570,000m²
• Number of check-in counters: 369 traditional procedure counters and over 100 self-service check-in kiosks
• Boarding gates: 77 gates with jet bridges, 11 gates as assembly points

Terminal structure and main areas:

• Floors 1 and 2: Airline offices, where technical and flight operations are conducted
• Floor 3: Connected to Chek Lap Kok Airport Shopping Center, concentrating many retail stores, restaurants, cafes, and banks
• Floor 4: Boarding gate area and connection point to SkyPier passenger ferry terminal to Chinese coastal cities
• Floor 5: Arrival hall area where passengers collect baggage and complete customs procedures
• Floor 6: Y-shaped departure waiting area
• Floor 7: Departure hall and pre-flight procedures
• Floor 8 (Mezzanine): Mezzanine floor with rich dining options and open spaces

Part of the interior space of Terminal T1 (Source: Internet)

In addition to the main areas, Terminal T1 has 2 expansion areas: the midfield concourse and satellite concourse.

MIDFIELD CONCOURSE

Located west of Terminal T1, the midfield concourse primarily serves wide-body aircraft with an estimated operational capacity of 10 million passengers annually. This area is fully equipped with services such as duty-free shops and fully-equipped lounges. Passengers from Terminal T1 will use the Automated People Mover (APM) system to reach the midfield concourse.

Subway train connecting Terminal T1 with the midfield concourse (Source: Internet)

SATELLITE CONCOURSE

The T1S satellite concourse is a new facility put into operation to serve exclusively flights using narrow-body aircraft with an estimated capacity of 5 million passengers annually. The concourse is designed with 2 separate floors and arranged with 10 jet bridges. Passengers from Terminal T1 can walk across the Sky Bridge within 8 minutes to reach the satellite concourse.

Sky Bridge connecting Terminal T1 with the satellite concourse (Source: Internet)

TERMINAL T2:

Terminal T2 is currently temporarily closed for expansion upgrades costing 12.9 billion HKD and will reopen in phases, expected to begin from September 2025. The upgrade items include:

• Phase 1 (September 2025): Opening of indoor bus terminal. Moving ticket counters and pickup points from Terminal T1 along with some parking areas to Terminal T2
• Phase 2 (early Q2/2026): Opening of check-in area with 56 counters
• Final phase (2027): Opening of the entire T2 departure area

According to plans, Terminal T2 will consist of 6 floors, connected to Terminal T1 by internal APM trains.

Perspective of Terminal T2 expansion project (Source: Internet)

2.3. Notable services and amenities

Not just a transportation point, Terminal T1 is also a place that provides convenient and pleasant experiences for passengers with a rich service system:

• Shopping, dining: SkyMart area (Floor 5) gathers hundreds of duty-free and retail stores, from luxury brands like Chanel, Hermès to affordable brands; over 60 restaurants, cafes, and snack bars serving diverse Asian-European cuisine
  
• Rest, relaxation: Transit hotel, airport lounges, private bathrooms, massage areas, and dining services. Additionally, near gates 20 and 23, there are public rest areas and free bathrooms for passengers
  
• Connectivity and digital support: Free Wi-Fi covering the entire terminal, along with mobile device charging stations located at many convenient positions
  
• Other amenities:
  

• Bank ATMs, Travelex and Global Exchange currency exchange counters
• Baggage storage service
• Nursing rooms
• Prayer rooms and designated smoking areas
• Lost & Found office operating 24/7

Art and culture exhibition areas of various localities (Source: Internet)

An airport lounge (Source: Internet)

A duty-free shopping area (Source: Internet)

A dining area in the airport (Source: Internet)

3. List of operational flight routes 2025

3.1. List of domestic flight routes

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. The airport has many flight routes connecting to over 50 destinations in Mainland China and Taiwan:

Taiwan: Taipei - Taoyuan, Kaohsiung (Cao Hùng), Taichung, Hualien

China (Trung Quốc):

• Beijing Capital: Capital, Daxing
• Shanghai: Shanghai - Pudong, Shanghai - Hongqiao
• Eastern cities: Hangzhou, Nanjing, Wenzhou, Ningbo, Wuxi, Yiwu, Changzhou, Hefei, Qingdao, Jinan, Yantai, Linyi
• North and Northeast: Tianjin, Dalian, Yinchuan, Taiyuan, Shijiazhuang, Changchun, Shenyang, Harbin, Hailar, Hohhot
• Central and Western regions: Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi'an, Guiyang, Kunming, Lanzhou, Lhasa, Yuncheng, Datong, Ordos
• South - Southwest: Guangzhou, Haikou, Sanya, Lijiang, Quanzhou, Zhushan, Yichang, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Dali, Xuzhou

3.2. List of international flight routes to Vietnam

Below is a list of popular flight routes from Hong Kong International Airport to Vietnam operated by Vietnam Airlines:

Note: Flight information is updated as of July 2025. Travelers should visit the Vietnam Airlines website to update the latest list of flight routes.

3.3. List of other popular international flight routes

Hong Kong International Airport operates many international flight routes to major regions in Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. Below are some popular destinations:

Asia - Pacific:

• Japan: Tokyo (Narita, Haneda), Osaka (Kansai), Fukuoka, Nagoya, Sapporo
• South Korea: Seoul (Incheon), Busan
• Southeast Asia: Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi), Phuket, Singapore (Changi), Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Jakarta, Denpasar (Bali), Manila, Cebu, Phnom Penh
• India: Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore
• Middle East: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh

North America:

• United States: New York (JFK), Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago
• Canada: Vancouver, Toronto

Europe

• Western Europe: London (Heathrow), Paris (Charles de Gaulle), Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Zurich, Milan, Madrid
• Northern Europe: Helsinki

Africa

• South Africa: Johannesburg
• Ethiopia: Addis Ababa

Hong Kong International Airport operates a dense network with numerous flights to many regions worldwide (Source: Internet)

4. Transportation guide to and from the airport

4.1. Transportation from city center to airport

Travelers can choose various transportation methods suitable for cost and time to travel from the center to the airport:

4.2. Transportation from airport to city locations

Right after arriving at the airport, passengers can choose the following transportation methods to quickly travel to the center:

The Airport Express is the fastest and most convenient way to get to the airport (Source: Internet)

International transit passengers traveling to/from China can use SkyPier ferry (Source: Internet)

5. Important notes when departing/arriving at the airport

When departing or arriving at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), you need to note some important information to ensure a smooth and convenient journey.

5.1. Notes before flight departure

Time to arrive at airport: You should be at the airport at least 3 hours before departure, especially during peak hours or if carrying lots of luggage.

• Self-service check-in kiosks close 75 minutes before flight time
• Traditional check-in counters close 60 minutes before flight time
• Boarding gates close 30 minutes before flight time

Faster procedures with biometric technology:

HKIA encourages passengers to use self-service kiosks for procedures, then drop baggage at automated machines. You can also register your face at security checkpoints to pass through boarding gates without presenting boarding passes or passports.

Baggage regulations:

Each airline has its own baggage policy. You should check carry-on baggage size and checked baggage limits on the airline's website beforehand to avoid additional costs at counters.

5.2. Notes when landing at the airport

Immigration:

• Vietnamese citizens must have a visa to enter Hong Kong, even when just transiting and not leaving the transit area, except for holders of diplomatic or official passports (visa-free for up to 14 days)
• Passports must be valid for at least 1 month after the expected departure date from Hong Kong and must have at least one blank page
• Vietnamese citizens cannot use E-Channel, so need to queue at traditional immigration counters

Baggage claim: After immigration, you will go to the baggage claim area. Staff may check baggage tags to ensure correct ownership.

Customs:

• If you have goods to declare, go to the red channel; if not, follow the green channel
• Important note: CBD (Cannabidiol) is completely banned in Hong Kong, all CBD-containing products are considered dangerous drugs

Handling delayed or lost baggage:

• If you don't see your baggage, go to baggage inquiry counters near carousels (operating 07:00-24:00 daily), present baggage tag, boarding pass, and ID to file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR)
• If baggage is lost (not found after 14-21 days) or damaged (report within 7 days), you have the right to claim compensation

Other amenity services at the airport:

• Currency exchange and cash withdrawal: Many foreign exchange counters like Travelex, Global Exchange, Bank of China, along with ATM systems at Terminal 1 and SkyPier
• SIM and mobile Wi-Fi: You can buy local SIM or rent pocket Wi-Fi devices at stores like 7-Eleven, 1010, China Mobile, RELAY or Travelex counters in arrival halls

Passengers should use automated kiosks for quick procedures (Source: Internet)

6. Frequently asked questions about the airport

1. Where can I view the airport map?

You can view the terminal map directly through the following ways:

• Visit Vietnam Airlines' Flight Route Map page, click on Hong Kong International Airport in the Northeast Asia region
• Visit the official Hong Kong International Airport website
• Download the My HKG app to your mobile device with real-time navigation features

With detailed maps, you can easily find departure gates, shopping areas, lounges, and other amenities.

2. Do I need a visa to enter Hong Kong?

According to regulations updated from July 1, 2025, Vietnamese citizens must have a visa to enter Hong Kong, even when just transiting by air and not leaving the transit area.

Visa exemption only applies to holders of diplomatic or official passports, with stays not exceeding 14 days.

3. How to travel from the airport to city center?

You have many transportation options depending on your needs and budget:

• Airport Express: The fastest and most convenient train route, taking about 24 minutes to reach Hong Kong Station
• Public buses: Suitable for budget-conscious travelers. Travel time from 40 to 60 minutes
• Taxi: Suitable if you have lots of luggage or need to go directly to hotels. Travel time from 30 to 60 minutes
• Private transfer service: For passengers wanting premium service experience, travel time equivalent to taxi, prices vary by vehicle type and service provider

4. What rest areas are available at HKG during transit?

Hong Kong Airport has many rest options suitable for transit passengers:

• Airport lounges: Including airline lounges, Plaza Premium Lounge, and airport VIP lounges, with full amenities from reclining chairs, showers, snacks to quiet work spaces
• Free rest areas:

• Quiet seating areas near gates 20, 23
• Behind gate 44
• Areas near gates 212 and 214 in the Midfield Concourse
• Some passengers also use travel blankets to nap in spaces around pillar number 8 in the departure hall

• Transit hotel: Located on Floor 5, the transit hotel provides short-term rooms (from 7:00 to 23:00), easily accessible via connecting bridge from Terminal T1

With its strategic location, modern infrastructure, and global flight network, Hong Kong International Airport is not only an important transit point but also the starting place for memorable journeys. From rich duty-free shopping experiences to quality rest amenities, from smart procedures to convenient transportation connections, HKIA continuously innovates to bring maximum convenience and comfort to all passengers.