ENG-2007 — Page 313

Transport | 261

which will reduce substantially the travelling distance between HKIA and the eastern side of the PRD region.

During 2007, the Airport Authority (AA) introduced another cross-boundary ferry route which links HKIA with Zhuhai Jiuzhou Port. HKIA's ferry network now covers a total of six major PRD ports. Upstream check-in facilities were extended to Shenzhen Fuyong and Macao in 2007 in addition to Shekou. Transit passengers from these ports can check in their luggage and travel baggage-free to HKIA for their onward journey to overseas destinations. With the commissioning of the Shenzhen Bay Boundary Crossing Facilities (BCF) in July 2007, some of the cross-boundary coach routes were diverted to the new BCF to take advantage of the more convenient route and boundary crossing arrangements

Airport Services

HKIA is recognised widely for its excellent services. Indeed, it is one of Hong Kong's most successful brand names, thanks to the dedication and commitment of the whole airport community. In 2007, HKIA was voted the World's Best Airport in the annual Skytrax Survey for the sixth time in the past seven years. During the year, it also received Travel Trade Gazette's Best Airport Award, for the fifth time in a row, and many other prestigious awards. HKIA does not rest on its laurels. It is always looking at ways to further improve its already best-of-the-world services. The official opening of HKIA's second passenger terminal, Terminal 2 (T2), in June 2007, has raised the service bar even higher. With 56 airline check-in counters, the spacious T2 now caters to 12 airlines. Designed to be an inter-modal transport hub, T2 houses a cross-boundary coach terminal and is connected to the SkyPier (under construction) by automated people movers. The four entertainment areas, numerous restaurant and shopping outlets at T2 together with the newly opened SkyCity Nine Eagles Golf Course offer travellers a unique airport experience.

HKIA is committed to providing excellent services on good as well as on bad days. In July this year, the airport command centre was moved into the Integrated Airport Centre to strengthen further its ability to detect and respond to emergencies more rapidly, efficiently and effectively.

Preparation for Growth

AA envisages handling up to 80 million passengers and 8 million tonnes of air cargo each year by 2025. AA, in conjunction with the Civil Aviation Department (CAD), has engaged an internationally renowned expert to seek ways to enhance the use of Hong Kong's airspace and its two existing runways and to assess a third runway's incremental benefit to the HKIA. The expert findings should be known by mid-2008 following which the AA will decide on whether or not to proceed with studies on the engineering and environmental feasibility of building a third runway.

The AA is also enhancing other essential airport facilities to meet further growth. Eight additional cargo stands were completed in 2007 and two more will come on stream soon. Several enhancement projects were launched in 2007, including reconfiguration of the passenger building to increase immigration and security channels and enlarge circulation areas, construction of a new passenger concourse