Exhibition celebrates 100 Years of Hong Kong’s airport development

The “Centennial Exhibition of Hong Kong Airport Development” was unveiled at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) today. Open to the public until 8 November, the exhibition celebrates 100 years of Hong Kong airport development by reminiscing about the airport’s many historical milestones, from the Kai Tak era to Chek Lap Kok, and providing a glimpse into the airport’s future.

Mable Chan, Secretary for Transport and Logistics; Kevin Choi, Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics; Victor Liu, Director-General of Civil Aviation, and Vivian Cheung, Chief Executive Officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) officiated at the exhibition’s opening ceremony.

Vivian Cheung, CEO of AAHK, remarked at the event, “This centennial exhibition provides a moment to reflect on our journey and to imagine the future we are building together as an airport community. With the commissioning of the Three-runway System (3RS) last year, and the upcoming phased opening of the new Terminal 2, we will be entering a new phase of expansion. With SKYTOPIA, our new brand for the Airport City blueprint, we are transforming our airport into a world-class destination — integrating commerce, pop culture, art, and premium entertainment and leisure experiences.”

Mable Chan, Secretary for Transport and Logistics, said, “Both Kai Tak Airport and HKIA have witnessed Hong Kong's journey of soaring. Hong Kong's airport has always been a leading international aviation hub for passengers and cargo, making Hong Kong a major gateway to the Mainland from around the world. All of this progress is thanks to the continuous efforts of the aviation industry, which has worked together to build the renowned reputation of HKIA. Looking forward, the SAR Government will seize the opportunities of the 3RS and Airport City, continue to work with AAHK to vigorously expand the aviation network, support HKIA in developing new destinations and flights, and develop the intermodal connectivity for the Greater Bay Area. This will ensure that HKIA remains the preferred airport for passengers and cargo from the Greater Bay Area to and from overseas, fully leveraging its role as a leading international aviation hub and ensuring it continues to shine for the next century.”

The exhibition presents the century-long journey of Hong Kong’s airport development in three chapters and features a wide range of artefacts from various eras. The first chapter, “First Ascent: The Early Years of Hong Kong International Airport”, records the early years between 1925 and 1970 by tracing the airport’s transformation from a simple stretch of land into Kai Tak Airport, which emerged as the major international aviation hub for Southeast Asia. “From Crowded Skies to New Horizons”, the second chapter, highlights milestones from 1970 to 1998, including the golden era of Kai Tak Airport – which was one of the busiest airports in the world in 1986 – as well as the historic relocation of the airport to Chek Lap Kok in 1998.

The final chapter, “A City Beyond the Airport”, showcases HKIA’s evolution from 1998 to 2025 and beyond. Over the years, HKIA has secured its position as a leading international aviation hub supported by world-class infrastructure, an extensive air network, seamless intermodal connectivity, and efficient operations driven by innovation and smart technology. Major highlights include the commissioning of the 3RS in 2024 and HKIA’s consistent recognition as the world’s busiest cargo airport. No longer only a gateway for departures and arrivals, the airport is also developing into a world-class airport city destination, SKYTOPIA, designed to draw travellers and businesses from around the globe.