Bigger planes, fewer routes seen as solution to boost airport capacity

Hong Kong-based carriers, including Cathay Pacific Airways, are being urged by the Civil Aviation Department to use larger aircraft and consolidate routes as the airport risks running out of landing slots as early as next year.

The airport is now seeing 65 take-offs and landings an hour during peak operating hours from 10am to 1pm, the maximum number allowed on its two runways.

"The hourly capacity of the two runways is expected to increase to 68 movements in 2015 during certain busy hours of the day, while room for substantially lifting the capacity would be limited," said Raymond Li, the aviation department's chief air traffic control officer.

"Only one to two additional slots could be added after the upgrading programme of the air traffic management system is finished."

The air navigation system is migrating from a ground-based radar to a satellite-based system to increase air traffic control capabilities within the 200 nautical mile radius controlled by Hong Kong and to boost capacity.

The present movement cap at Chek Lap Kok has often been criticised, as the number appears to be short of international standards. For example, the two runways at London Heathrow Airport can handle more than 80 aircraft an hour.

But Li said the presence of Lantau Peak to the south and the mix of aircraft types in Hong Kong had an impact on runway capacity.