Hong Kong International Airport

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), the only passenger airport in Hong Kong, is one of the busiest transportation hubs in Asia. About 140 airlines operate flights there to/from more than 200 destinations worldwide, including Seoul, Tokyo, London, Paris, New York, Vancouver, Dubai, Hanoi, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, etc., from about 50 countries and regions in Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and Oceania. In Chinese Mainland, a total of 48 airports of 45 cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, and Chongqing are connected to HKIA by plane.

Located in Chek Lap Kok, north of Lantau Island, New Territories, Hong Kong Airport and downtown are about 34 kilometers (21 miles) apart, linked by fast Airport Express and multiple bus routes.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong airport serves as a primary air gateway to Chinese cities in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Macau, and Zhuhai, with high speed trains, buses, ferries and more shuttling between.
Two terminal buildings, Terminal 1 and 2 opposite each other, are in operation. It takes about 10 - 15 minutes to shuttle between on foot and 3 - 5 minutes by free Automated People Mover (APM).
 T1 is the main building, where all flights land and take off and most airlines’ check-in counters are located. 

 L7, Departures Level: check-in counters, lounges, shops, food and beverage service, security check, immigration counters
 L6, Departures Level: boarding gates No. 1 - 36, lounges, concentrated shops
 L5, Arrivals Level: luggage claim, transfer desks, walkway to L3 of T2
 L4, Departures Level: boarding gates No. 511 - 524
 L1: free APM to boarding gates No. 40 - 80 & 201 - 230

 Airlines at T1
Aeroflot Russian Airlines (SU), Air Astana (KC), AIR BUSAN (BX), Air Cambodia (K6), Air Canada (AC), Air China (CA), Air France (AF), Air India (AI), Air Mauritius (MK), AIR NEW ZEALAND (NZ), Air Niugini (PX), Air Premia (YP), AIR SEOUL (RS), AirAsia X (D7), All Nippon Airways (NH), Asiana Airlines (OZ), British Airways (BA), Cathay Pacific (CX), China Airlines (CI), China Eastern Airlines (MU), China Southern Airlines (CZ), Chongqing Airlines (OQ), Delta Air Lines (DL), EASTAR JET (ZE), EGYPTAIR (MS), Emirates (EK), Ethiopian Airlines (ET), ETIHAD AIRWAYS (EY), EVA Air (BR), EZNIS AIRWAYS (MG), FIJI AIRWAYS (FJ), FINNAIR (AY), Garuda Indonesia (GA), Hebei Airlines (NS), Japan Airlines (JL), Jetstar Japan (GK), Jiangxi Air (RY), Jin Air (LJ), Juneyao Airlines (HO), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL), Korean Air (KE), Lanmei Airlines (LQ), LOONGAIR (GJ), Lucky Air (8L), Lufthansa German Airlines (LH), Malaysia Airlines (MH), Mandarin Airlines (AE), MIAT Mongolian Airlines (OM), Nepal Airlines (RA), Peach Aviation (MM), Philippine Airlines (PR), PT Indonesia AirAsia (QZ), Qantas Airways (QF), QATAR AIRWAYS (QR), Qingdao Airlines (QW), Royal Air Philippines (RW), Royal Brunei Airlines (BI), Royal Jordanian (RJ), Ruili Airlines (DR), S7 Airlines (S7), SCOOT (TR), Shandong Airlines (SC), Shanghai Airlines (FM), Shenzhen Airlines (ZH), Sichuan Airlines (3U), Singapore Airlines (SQ), SpiceJet (SG), Spring Airlines (9C), STARLUX Airlines (JX), Sun Phuquoc Airways (9G), SWISS International Air Lines (LX), T'way Air (TW), Thai Airways (TG), TURKISH AIRLINES (TK), United Airlines (UA), Urumqi Air (UQ), Vietnam Airlines (VN), West Air (PN), Xiamen Airlines (MF), Xizang Airlines (TV)

Hong Kong International Airport

 T2, reopened in May 2026 after a 7-year-long upgrade, only undertakes check-in for some airlines, security checks, and border inspections at present. It doesn’t have its own boarding gates now, which are under construction and expected to be put into use at the end of 2027, and passengers need to take APM to T1 for flights boarding.

 L7, Departures Level: check-in counters for airlines listed below, security check, border inspection
 L5, Arrivals Level
 L3: passage to L5 Departure Level of T1
 L1: platform for APM

 Airlines at T2
AirAsia (AK), Bangkok Airways (PG), Batik Air Malaysia (0D), Cambodia Airways (KR), Cebu Pacific Air (5J), Greater Bay Airlines (HB), Hainan Airlines (HU), HK Express (UO), Hong Kong Airlines (HX), IndiGo (6E), JEJU Air (7C), Philippines AirAsia Inc (Z2), Thai AirAsia (FD), Thai Lion Air (SL), VietJet Air (VJ)

 Note: More airlines may move their check-in counters to T2 later. You can visit the official website or WeChat official account of Hong Kong Airport for the latest information.

Flight Display Screen

Watering Place

 This is especially important for passengers planning to check in their luggage. The check-in counter opens 3 hours before departure and closes 60 minutes ahead, and the boarding gates usually shut 20 - 30 minutes prior to takeoff. 

Confirm which terminal you should go for check-in through your ticket booking information. Even though T2 is newly opened, it’s directly accessible by Airport Express and buses, which means that you don’t have to make a detour to T1.
 Multiple ways are optional in the airport with advanced facilities.

a. Manual check-in: Get to the correct aisle and find the check-in counter of your airline. 

b. Online check-in through the official app of the airport. At present, Cathay Pacific (CX), HK Express (UO), Hong Kong Airlines (HX), Singapore Airlines (SQ), and Greater Bay Airlines (HB) offer this service. Passengers can directly check in their baggage at special Smartphone Express Bag Drop desks upon arrival at the airport with prior registration on their phone, saving time waiting in a long queue at the airline counter. 

24h Convenience Store

c. More than 100 smart check-in machines are set inside the two terminal buildings. In T2, self-service luggage check-in systems also help passengers to deal with their luggage with the shortest duration of only 1 minute.

d. In-town check-in & baggage drop-off
Some airlines provide the service at Airport Express Hong Kong Station and Kowloon Station for their passengers planning to get to the airport by Airport Express. One can get the boarding pass and baggage tag as early as 24 hours and up to 90 minutes before flight departure. 

It’s processed in the restricted in-town check-in area at these stations. To reach the counter, passengers are required to pay a full ticket fare for Airport Express. After all procedures are completed there, it’s feasible to leave the station to do some city sightseeing at ease, and then return to take the train according to flight schedule. There is no need to pay again when boarding the train as long as the same payment tool, including Octopus, paper ticket, QR transit code, or contactless bank cards are used. 

Participating Airlines for In-town Check-in	Service Hours at Hong Kong Station	Service Hours at Kowloon Station
Cathay Pacific	6:00 - 23:00	6:00 - 15:00
China Airlines	9:00 - 18:00	/
Hong Kong Airlines	6:00 - 19:00	6:00 - 15:00
Mandarin Airlines	9:00 - 18:00	/
Qantas Airways	7:00 - 18:35	7:00 - 15:00
Singapore Airlines	9:00 - 17:20	/

 Kind Reminder: For passengers whose check-in counter is located at T2, if you don’t have checked luggage and your airline provides an e-boarding pass after prior online check-in, you can proceed with the remaining steps at T1 rather than make a detour at T2, as it’s not necessary to make a registration at the check-in counter for you and all boarding gates are actually located at T1.
 

Locate Your Boarding Gate

 There are totally around 88 boarding gates at Hong Kong Airport, all of which are located within T1 but are shared by passengers checking in through both T1 and T2. 

Area	Boarding Gate No.
Waiting Hall of Terminal 1	1 - 12, 23 - 36, 511 - 524; 40 - 80
T1 Satellite Concourse	13 - 21
T1 Midfield Concourse	201 - 230

 If you leave Hong Kong from T1
Gate No. 1 - 36 and 511 - 524 are accessible on foot, while distant No. 40 - 80 and 201 - 230, far away from the core area of the terminal building, require a 3-minute/ 6-minute ride on APM. You need to walk to Gate No. 10 in the waiting hall after immigration inspection, where the APM direction boards are located. Then, follow the signs to find the APM. 

Please note that if your boarding gate is located at the farthest end, for example, No. 50, 70, 202 or 218, you still need to walk over 10 minutes after getting off the APM.

 If you should finish all necessary steps at T2 before boarding at T1
Follow the boards to the APM platform on L1 and wait for the train, no matter which gate you plan to go to. APM train stops at 3 stations: Gate 1 – 36 & 511 – 530, Gate 40 – 80, and Gate 201 – 230. It takes at least 30 minutes in total to get to the boarding gate after check-in in T2.

APM is available at 05:30 – 00:30, with a short interval of several minutes. If it is out of service, free shuttle buses serve instead, taking you to Gate No. 201 – 230 in 10 – 20 minutes, the boarding point of which can be found near Gate No. 520 inside T1. If you check in at T2, you have to first spend around 15 – 20 minutes walking to L5 Arrivals Level of T1 after check-in and follow the same procedures to take the bus. 

Wait for Boarding

 As mentioned above, all flights land at T1 now, so it doesn’t take much time or consume a lot of energy to do arrivals at Hong Kong Airport. 

1. Go through immigration with your passport and necessary documents.
2. Claim baggage.
3. Accept customs inspection.
4. Leave the airport.

Pick up Your Luggage

 Hong Kong Airport has excellent facilities for transit passengers, providing a great experience for both short transfers and long stays.
 Those booking a connecting flight with two tickets in their hands before arriving at HKIA and checking in their luggage through to the final destination don’t need to enter Hong Kong upon arrival; all steps will be processed quickly in the restricted transit area. 

1. Find the passage for transit passengers in the restricted transfer area according to directional signs “Transfer” upon landing.
2. Scan your passport and the onward boarding pass successively to enter the security check.
3. Then you will come to the waiting area and find your boarding gate.

 Kind Reminder: The same is true for passengers who book two separate flights without checked luggage if their onward airline offers online check-in. It means that they can get an e-boarding pass before making a transfer.

Charging Area

 1. Confirm if your airline has a transfer counter according to your ticket information or the official website of the airport. 

 If yes, and your luggage is checked through,
2. Locate the desk in the restricted transfer area, and get the boarding pass for the next plane.
3. Queue up to go through security check.
4. Get to the departures level and locate your boarding gate.
You are advised to leave about 2 hours for this transfer.

 If no, or you have to claim your luggage:
It means that you have to enter Hong Kong, check in again and then leave.
2. After the plane lands, go through immigration and pick up your luggage at the arrivals hall.
3. Then, embark on a new departure: Find your check-in desk on the departure level of T1 or T2, and get your new boarding pass and baggage tag. After going through security check and immigration, head to your boarding gate. 

Prepare for 3 hours for this complex flow; even if you move quickly, it calls for at least 2.5 hours. If you land at T1 but the check-in counter for next flight is at T2, add an extra 20 minutes.

Luggage Carts

Visit the Shopping Area

 1. If you have an extra hour during your transfer, you may want to try local cuisine or take a break at a coffee shop in the catering area of the restricted area; fast food restaurants like McDonald's are also available. Hong Kong Disneyland souvenirs shop and luxury jewelry stores can be found at the shopping districts.
2. For passengers with a long stayover of more than 8 hours, it’s advisable to leave the airport for a downtown highlight trip covering Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Victoria Harbour, etc. By Airport Express, you only need to spend 1 hour on board for a round-trip journey.
3. HKIA offers free showers at the transfer area and arrivals level for tired transit passengers. 
4. Near boarding gates, many deck chairs are placed, with charging ports and small tables. 
5. For lying-down sleep, tourists can get to Regal Airport Hotel, a several-minute walk away from the arrivals hall, or Regala Skycity and Sheraton in Tung Chung area, 5 km (3.1 mi) from the airport, which provide free shuttles.

 Read more: Hong Kong Airport Amenities & Services

Rest Area with Deck Chairs

 The 35.3 km-long (21.9 mi) journey from the airport to central downtown takes as little as 24 minutes. Five stations are set: AsiaWorld-Expo, Airport, Tsing Yi, Kowloon, and Hong Kong Station, allowing passengers to reach popular destinations including Central, Lan Kwai Fong, IFC, West Kowloon Railway Station, Elements Shopping Mall, and ICC in a short time. 

It operates at 05:50 – 01:13, with a ticket fare of HKD 73 – 120 (USD 9.3 – 15.3). What’s more, passengers who travel between the airport and the city on the same day enjoy a free return trip, which can be a special benefit for transit tourists.
 HKIA is well served by public buses, transferring passengers to and from most parts of the city, particularly popular destinations like Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, Causeway Bay, Yau Ma Tei, Wan Chai, etc. They operate for a long duration, usually from 06:00 to 00:00; even at midnight and early morning from 01:00 to 5:00, some night lines are in operation, offering convenience to passengers taking the red-eye flight.

 See Airport Bus A21
 Taxis offer a fast and flexible service to and from the airport. Arriving passengers intending to use this service should proceed to the Taxi Station on the left-hand ramp outside the Arrivals Hall. Taxis in the city come in 3 colors, indicating the area they serve: red urban taxis, green New Territories taxis, and blue Lantau taxis. 

Here are the roughly estimated taxi fares for popular routes between urban destinations and the airport:

From/To	Taxi to Take	Taxi Fare (HKD)
West Kowloon Railway Station	Red Taxi	265
Central		375
Yau Ma Tei/ Jordan		290
Mong Kok		285
Tsim Sha Tsui		290
Causeway Bay		380
Repulse Bay		430
Victoria Harbour		290
Clear Water Bay	Red Taxi/ Green Taxi	420 - 495
Shenzhen Bay Port		250 - 260
Tseung Kwan O	Red Taxi	370
Hong Kong Disneyland	Red Taxi/ Blue Taxi	155 - 160
Tung Chung		65 - 75

 Take Airport Bus A11 and get off at North Point Ferry Pier Station after 20 mid stops. This 85-minute journey costs HKD 41.9 (USD 5.3).
 Passengers can ride Airport Express and get off at Hong Kong station to reach Central. It takes about 30 minutes at HKD 120. Airport Bus A11 and E11A work as alternatives.

Then, it’s easy to get to Victoria Peak from Central.
a. Walk to Garden Road Peak Tram Terminal and interchange to peak tram, which gets to the peak in 10 minutes and charges HKD 82. 
b. Or get to Central Exchange Square stop for city bus 15. It takes 55 minutes on board and the ticket fare is HKD 13.
 Get on Airport Bus A11 or E11A at the Ground Transportation Center of the airport to Wan Chai Fire Station, Hennessy Road stop in about 80/ 95 minutes at HKD 41.9/ 21.7 (USD 5.3/ 2.8). After getting off the bus, walk 410 meters (450 yards) to the bay.

 See also:

How to Get from Hong Kong Airport to Kowloon
How to Travel from Hong Kong Airport to Tsim Sha Tsui

 Option 1: Airport Express + High Speed Train: 2 – 2.5h; from HKD 320 (USD 40.8)
Option 2: Cross-border Coach: 3 - 4 h, HKD 210 – 250 (USD 26.8 – 31.9)
Option 3: Sky Pier, HKIA to Guangzhou Ferry: 2.5 h, from HKD 435 (USD 55.5)
 Option 1: Airport Express + High Speed Train: 45 - 60 minutes, HKD 183.7 - 366.8 (USD 23.4 – 46.8)
Option 2: SkyPier, HKIA to Shenzhen Ferry: 30 - 40 minutes, HKD 198 – 330 (USD 25.2 – 42.1)
Option 3: Cross-border Bus: from about 90 minutes, from HKD 135 (USD 17.2)

 Further Reading:
Hong Kong Airport to Shenzhen Ferry
Shenzhen to Hong Kong Airport
 One ferry departure is available at 12:30 daily from SkyPier, HKIA to Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal, taking HKD 297 (USD 37.9) for an economy class seat. 

 see more on Hong Kong - Macau Ferry
 Many coaches run from HKIA to Macau, with distinguished stops in Macau downtown, including Grand Lisboa Macau, Lisboa Palace, Jai Alai Hotel, etc. It departs at 09:20 – 20:35 every 1 hour, at HKD 243 (USD 31).