Aircraft landing and parking fees at Hong Kong International will go up from 1st September 2016 as the city’s Airport Authority seeks more funding options for its proposed Third Runway. This is in addition to the extra levy of up to HK$180 per flight from August 2016.
The Airport Authority proposes to roughly restore aircraft landing and parking charges to the level before 2000, according to the notice.
The parking fees will rise immediately, while the landing fee would rise gradually over three years starting 1st September. A government spokesman said none of the three trade organisations consulted on the increases – the International Air Transport Association, the Board of Airline Representatives Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre – raised any objections.
Hong Kong International Airport reported a mere 0.2 per cent growth in passenger flight movement in April compared with the same month last year. Growth in passenger numbers slowed further from 4.8% in March to 1.4% in April. This slowing of growth is due to the fact that the airport is at full capacity. However: According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, visitor numbers dropped 2.1% in April, with passenger flows from the mainland dropping by 4%.
“It is a very bad signal of Hong Kong’s declining attraction as a tourist destination and transportation hub,” said Li Dianchun, commercial director at Hong Kong Airlines, who said he feared the fee increases would further reduce Hong Kong’s appeal to potential customers.