Airport arrivals in Hong Kong to wait in new rest zones and get snacks, water if public transport suspended in bad weather
- More than 500 chairs will be available at departure hall, with each seat prepared with supply kit containing pack of crackers, bottle of water and blanket
- Airport Authority says it will implement new ticketing system if demand and supply of taxis were unbalanced due to bad weather
Travellers arriving at Hong Kong airport will be able to wait in new rest areas packed with snacks, water and phone-charging services during adverse weather events that cut off public transport.
Typhoon Koinu, which hit the city last September, forced the suspension of the express train service, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at the airport’s taxi rank for as long as eight hours.
The Airport Authority on Thursday said it would implement a new ticketing system if the demand and supply of taxis were unbalanced due to bad weather to prevent passengers from queuing for a long time.
“There is a chance that the taxi queuing system will be activated when the No 8 typhoon signal or the black rainstorm warning is issued,” Steven Yiu Siu-chung, the authority’s executive director of airport operations, said.
“We will inform passengers and contact the airline throughout the entire process.
“Before a plane lands, we will explain to passengers that airport traffic has been reduced due to bad weather and that they will have to get a ticket if they want to get a cab.”