Hong Kong International Airport
Also known as: Hong Kong Airport, HKG Airport, Chek Lap Kok Airport, HKIA.
Private transfer from HKGSee pricesSee pricesAbout Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) is the main airport of Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of China. It is built on reclaimed land at Chek Lap Kok, next to Lantau Island, about 35 km from Central on Hong Kong Island.
Cathay Pacific is based here and flies to cities across Asia, Europe, North America and Australia. HK Express, Hong Kong Airlines and Greater Bay Airlines focus on regional routes in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Southeast Asia, and mainland Chinese, Asian, European and North American airlines add flights to their own hubs.
Terminal 1 handles all arrivals, all boarding gates and most check-in. The rebuilt Terminal 2 opened for departures on 27 May 2026 and serves around 15 mainly short-haul airlines; after check-in and immigration there, passengers ride an automated people mover to their gate at Terminal 1. The airport runs three parallel runways.
The Airport Express reaches Central in about 24 minutes. Beyond the city, travelers head on to Kowloon, Lantau and its theme parks, Macau and Zhuhai across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and Shenzhen and other Greater Bay Area cities by cross-boundary coach.
Airport operator, runways and traffic
- Operator
Airport Authority Hong Kong
- Passengers per year
About 61 million in 2025
- Runways
Three parallel runways of 3,800 m
- Main airline
Cathay Pacific
- Opened
July 1998, replacing Kai Tak
Arrival tips for Hong Kong International Airport
All flights arrive at Terminal 1, whichever terminal you leave from. Hong Kong runs its own immigration, separate from mainland China: many nationalities can enter visa-free, and visitors no longer fill in an arrival card, but check the rules for your passport before you fly.
After immigration, collect your bags in the Baggage Reclaim Hall, then pass customs, using the red channel only if you have goods to declare. You come out into Arrivals Hall A or B, where people meeting you watch the arrival screens.
The Airport Express platform and the airport bus stops are a short walk from the arrivals halls; turn right for the buses. Taxis wait in front of the Arrivals Hall, and their color tells you the area they serve: red for Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, green for the New Territories and blue for Lantau. Take only metered taxis from the official stand.
Hong Kong is hot and humid for much of the year. It runs on Hong Kong Time (UTC+8, no daylight saving), and the currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HKD).
Ground transportation
The Airport Express is the quickest way into the city for most travelers, while taxis suit those with heavy bags or late arrivals.
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Book a transfer from HKGAirport Express train
Trains leave from the platform between the terminals about every 15 minutes, from early morning until after midnight, and reach Central (Hong Kong station) in about 24 minutes. You may still need a taxi or MTR transfer from Kowloon or Hong Kong station to your hotel.
Taxi from Hong Kong airport
Red, green and blue taxis wait at the stand in front of the Arrivals Hall, each color serving a different part of Hong Kong. All are metered; the ride is slower than the train when traffic on the bridges is heavy.
Airport buses
A-route buses run to Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, and NA routes run overnight. Turn right after the Arrivals Hall to find them; they make more stops than the train.
Coach or bus to Macau and Zhuhai
Cross-boundary coaches leave from the airport coach hall for more than 110 Greater Bay Area destinations, and the B4 bus links the airport to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge port, where shuttle buses cross to Macau or Zhuhai in about 45 minutes. You need the right entry documents for Macau or the mainland.
SkyPier ferry
Ferries from SkyPier link the airport with Macau, Shenzhen and other Pearl River Delta ports for transfer passengers who do not pass through Hong Kong immigration. Check schedules with the ferry operator, as some routes are suspended.
Private transfer
A pre-booked driver meets you in the Arrivals Hall and takes you straight to your hotel, which helps with luggage or after the last train.
Moving between terminals
- 1
Automated people mover
Departing passengers who check in at Terminal 2 ride the airside people mover to their gate at Terminal 1 after security and immigration.
- 2
Landside footbridge
A covered footbridge links the two terminals before security, about a five-minute walk.
- 3
Shared Airport Express platform
The Airport Express station sits between the terminals, with doors opening on both sides for Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.
- 4
Airport buses
Airport bus routes that serve Terminal 2 stop at Terminal 1 first, so stay on for the second stop if you check in at Terminal 2.
Terminals
Terminal 1
Handles all arriving flights, every boarding gate and check-in for most airlines, including all long-haul carriers. Its Satellite Concourse is linked by a sky bridge.
Airlines commonly assigned here: Air China, All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines
Terminal 2
A departures-only terminal reopened on 27 May 2026 for about 15 mainly short-haul and low-cost airlines. After check-in, security and immigration, passengers take an automated people mover to gates at Terminal 1.
Airlines commonly assigned here: Greater Bay Airlines, HK Express, Hong Kong Airlines
Airlines and destinations
Frequently asked questions
How far is Hong Kong airport from Central?
Hong Kong International Airport is about 35 km from Central on Hong Kong Island. The Airport Express covers the trip to Hong Kong station in about 24 minutes, with trains roughly every 15 minutes. By road, the route crosses the Lantau Link bridges, and travel time depends on traffic and where your hotel is in Kowloon or on the Island.
Is Hong Kong airport in the city?
No. The airport sits on Chek Lap Kok, a platform of reclaimed land next to Lantau Island, well west of the urban core. Kowloon and Hong Kong Island are reached by expressway bridges or by the Airport Express train, which takes about 24 minutes to Central.
How many terminals does Hong Kong airport have?
Hong Kong airport has two passenger terminals. Terminal 1 handles all arrivals, all boarding gates and check-in for most airlines. Terminal 2 reopened on 27 May 2026 as a departures-only building for about 15 mainly short-haul airlines. Passengers who check in at Terminal 2 ride an automated people mover to their gate at Terminal 1.
Which airlines use Terminal 2 at Hong Kong airport?
Terminal 2 handles check-in for about 15 mainly regional airlines, including HK Express, Hong Kong Airlines, Greater Bay Airlines, Hainan Airlines, AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, IndiGo, VietJet Air and JEJU Air. Cathay Pacific and long-haul airlines check in at Terminal 1. Your boarding pass or airline will confirm the terminal, and all flights still arrive at Terminal 1.
How do taxis work at Hong Kong airport?
Taxis wait at the stand in front of the Arrivals Hall at Terminal 1. Their color shows the area they serve: red taxis go to Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, green taxis to the New Territories and blue taxis to Lantau Island. All taxis use meters, and you should join the official queue rather than accept offers inside the hall.
How do I get from Hong Kong airport to the city by public transport?
The Airport Express runs from about 05:54 to 00:48 and reaches Hong Kong station in Central in about 24 minutes, stopping at Tsing Yi and Kowloon on the way. Airport buses on A routes serve Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, and NA routes run overnight. An Octopus card works on both.
Can I use Uber or ride-hailing at Hong Kong airport?
Hong Kong passed a law in 2025 to license ride-hailing platforms, and the first licensed platforms are expected to start operating by the fourth quarter of 2026. Until then, check the current status before relying on an app. The official taxi stand and the Airport Express remain the most direct options from the arrivals hall.
Do I need an arrival card or visa for Hong Kong?
Visitors have not needed to fill in an arrival card since 16 October 2024. Many nationalities can enter Hong Kong visa-free for a set number of days, but rules depend on your passport. Hong Kong runs separate immigration from mainland China, so a mainland visa does not cover Hong Kong and you clear immigration again when crossing to Shenzhen.
How do I get from Hong Kong airport to Macau?
Take the B4 bus or a taxi from the airport to the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, clear Hong Kong departure immigration, then ride the shuttle bus across the bridge, which takes about 45 minutes. Transfer passengers can also use SkyPier ferries to Macau without entering Hong Kong when the service is running.
How do I get from Hong Kong airport to Shenzhen or Guangzhou?
Cross-boundary coaches leave from the airport coach hall for more than 110 destinations in the Greater Bay Area, including Shenzhen and Guangzhou. You clear Hong Kong departure immigration and mainland entry at the border. Transfer passengers can also use SkyPier ferries to Shenzhen ports such as Shekou and Fuyong when those routes are operating.
What time zone and currency does Hong Kong use?
Hong Kong uses Hong Kong Time, UTC+8, all year with no daylight saving time. The currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HKD), and an Octopus card is widely used for public transport. Expect hot, humid weather for much of the year, so plan for heat and rain when moving between the terminal and your transport.
Who operates Hong Kong airport and how busy is it?
Hong Kong International Airport is operated by the Airport Authority Hong Kong, a statutory body owned by the Hong Kong government. It handled about 61 million passenger trips in 2025, up 15% on 2024, with 394,730 flight movements. The airport opened in July 1998 and now runs three parallel runways.