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Transport
Recognition
The HKIA has been named as the 'world's best airport' over 50 times since it opened in 1998. In 2012, the HKIA was crowned the 'Best Airport' in the TTG Travel Awards for the tenth time and the 'Best Airport in China' by Business Traveller China for the sixth time. It was also named the 'Best Airport in Asia' by FinanceAsia and the 'Best Airport in Asia-Pacific' by Frequent Business Traveller.
Air Services
Under authorisation of the Central People's Government, the HKSAR Government negotiates and concludes bilateral air services agreements with aviation partners to provide the legal framework for scheduled air services between Hong Kong and other places. At present, there are 61 such agreements. The Government also reviews the traffic rights arrangements with its aviation partners to expand Hong Kong's aviation network and to allow more competition in the market. In 2012, the Government expanded traffic rights arrangements with nine aviation partners. In 2012, the Air Transport Licensing Authority granted 30 new licences: 15 to Hong Kong Express Airways, nine to Hong Kong Airlines, two to Cathay Pacific Airways, two to Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, one to AHK Air Hong Kong and one to Sky Shuttle Helicopters. The authority's procedural guide for processing licence applications is available at: www.thb.gov.hk/ eng/boards/transport/air/atla_procedural_guide.pdf.
In 2012, Cathay Pacific Airways operated scheduled services to 69 destinations worldwide, while Hong Kong Dragon Airlines operated regional scheduled services to 37 destinations (including 19 cities in the Mainland). Air Hong Kong operated scheduled all-cargo services to 12 destinations in Asia. Hong Kong Express Airways operated scheduled services to 15 destinations including the Mainland, Japan, Republic of Korea and Southeast Asia. Hong Kong Airlines operated scheduled services to 35 destinations including the Mainland, Japan, United Kingdom, Russia and Southeast Asia. Their fleets totalled 214 aircraft during the year.
Nine non-Hong Kong airlines commenced or resumed scheduled services to Hong Kong in 2012, seven operating passenger services and two operating all-cargo services. For passenger services, Shenzhen Airlines resumed services from Jinjiang in January; Mongolian Airlines Group started services from Ulaanbaatar in June; AirAsia Inc started services from Clark International Airport and Peach Aviation started services from Osaka in July; Air Astana commenced services from Almaty in August, Globus LLC started services from Novosibirsk in October and Tonle Sap Airlines started services from Siem Reap in November. For all-cargo services, Silk Way West Airlines started services from Baku in September and SF Airlines started services from Xiamen and Ningbo to Hong Kong in October.
Since May 2012, the Government Flying Service has operated its helicopter services at the new permanent Government helipad near the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Arrangements have been made for commercial helicopters to share use of the helipad.
Air Traffic Management
In 2012, the Air Traffic Management (ATM) system handled about 352,000 movements at the HKIA and 204,000 over-flights, including traffic to and from Macao, representing an increase of 5.2 per cent and 10.5 per cent respectively over 2011. Average daily flight movements at the
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