The airport is only 35 kilometers from the Hong Kong Island and 22 kilometers from Kowloon. Sprawling over an area of about 12.50 square kilometers, it is the world's fifth busiest airport in connection with cargo movement and international passenger. Opened its door in July 6, 1998, the airport is under the control of the Airport Authority Hong Kong, which in turn is a statutory body administered by the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR.) It took about six years for the completion of construction procedures and about US $20 billion to erect it. The airport is now regarded as the prime hub for such major airlines as Oasis Hong Kong Airlines, Hong Kong Express Airways, Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines, Air Hong Kong, and Dragonair.



One of the specialties of the airport is that its Passenger Terminal building is situated on a man-made island reclaimed from Chek Lap Kok and Lam Chau. Since the airport is situated on an island, it usually takes an hour or more in order to travel to and fro the airport. However, the airport is easily accessible via such modes as airbus, taxis, and the Mass Transit Railway high-speed airport express, which in turn are special trains that connect the airport with urban areas as well as the subway.

In short, the airport is served by an excellent as well as comprehensive transport network system. For instance, the Ground Transportation Centre features a station exclusively to handle the Airport Express trains. There is also a public transport interchange with transportation facilities including franchised bus, private cars, and taxis. The coach station in the airport's Terminal 2 (T2) caters to the passengers for tour coach such as hotel shuttle bus services and mainland coach services. Likewise, the Hotel and Travel Agent Limousine Lounge in the Terminal 1 (T1) of the airport deals with limousine services. Additionally, all of the sections as well as the departure and arrival areas in the terminal building are clearly defined in order to make all procedures hassle free and pleasurable.

Facilities available in the Hong Kong International Airport also include superb shopping and dining options. With an array of shops, you can purchase a variety of items from here including books and magazines, art and craft items, casual and sports wear, toys and games, leather as well as designer accessories, duty free liquor and tobacco, flower items, health and beauty related items, luggage and travel accessories, packaged food items, and telecommunication services. Dining facilities in the airport ranges from Asian, Chinese, and Western restaurants to coffee shop, cafe, and bakery and dessert shops.

Further, in order to make available best possible services to the customers, the airport has imposes certain safety measures, such as, striving for the maintenance of a safe as well as efficient airport for Hong Kong; providing a comfortable environment for the traveling public; ensuring high standard of cleanliness in the airport's public areas and other such facilities; ensuring high standards of services from the contractors, concessionaries, and franchisees of the airport authority; quick responses to queries and enquiries; and management of environmental issues throughout the airport.

Apart from these, the Civil Aviation Department within the airport has implemented certain security measures in connection with cabin baggage, which in turn comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization's new guidelines.

Included in the cabin baggage security measures are:

- All aerosols, liquids, and gels within the cabin baggage must be packed in containers with a capacity not exceeding 100 ml. In case, the aforesaid items are packed in containers larger than 100 ml, it will not be accepted, although the containers are partially filled

- All containers must be kept in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag. This plastic bag must be kept separately from other cabin baggage for the convenience of visual examination at the screening point

- There are exemptions in the case of such items as baby food items and certain types of medications

Above all, in order to ensure utmost safety and security, the airport is also attached with services such as the Air Traffic Control Complex, which controls the entire air traffic system in the airport; the Hong Kong Flight Information Region (FIR), which is set up to ensure safety and efficiency in connection with flow of aircraft movements; the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, which operates to handle the rescue as well as fire fighting services; and backup air traffic control centre.