A five-minute primer on an issue making headlines
On Thursday, Bangkok opened its new international airport after a long saga involving budget overruns, construction flaws, political interference and allegations of corruption. It took six years before construction began and another four to build. With a 563,000 square-metre passenger terminal, Suvarnabhumi Airport claims to have the world's largest passenger terminal - knocking out Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). However, doubts have surfaced over this claim.
So how big is Hong Kong International Airport?
According to its website, the Chek Lap Kok passenger terminal is 570,000 square metres - 7,000 square metres bigger than its Thai counterpart - and officially the 'largest airport terminal building under one continuous roof'. That may seem impressive to most, but HKIA is not close to being satisfied. With the completion of a new 35,000 square-metre terminal at the end of this year, it plans to leave competitors in the dust. Terminal 2 will house 56 check-in counters, 36 parking bays, a 4D cinema and various dining and retail outlets.
Has it broken any other records?
Considering the fact that Chek Lap Kok is the Guinness World Records holder as the most expensive airport project, expectations are high. The HK$156 billion of taxpayers' money spent on its construction, bought it a place in the top-10 list for construction achievements of the 20th century at the ConExpo conference in 1999 and a silver medal from the Hong Kong Institute of Architects the same year. Today, Chek Lap Kok is world No2 when it comes to the punctuality of flights and is known as one of the best airports for duty-free shopping. According to a Forbes magazine survey last year, 87 per cent of flights arrive and leave on time. Of the more than 280 million passengers who passed through the airport since it opened in July 1998, most have left with a good impression. It was ranked the world's best airport by an annual global survey of 5.5 million people for five years in a row until last year, before losing out to Singapore's Changi Airport this year.
