Aviation trade group the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has hailed the decision by the Hong Kong government to give the green light for the construction of a third runway at Hong Kong Airport.
Echoing earlier comments by the chief executive of Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific, AAPA Director General Andrew Herdman said it is a welcome boost for Hong Kong as it looks to maintain its leading position for both commercial passenger and cargo traffic.
“We very much welcome the decision by the Hong Kong Government to approve the construction of a third runway at Hong Kong International Airport. This will bring much needed additional capacity to meet the projected growth in demand for air travel,” Herdman said.
It will position HKIA to maintain its long term competitive edge, and support the continued successful development of Hong Kong, both as a major tourism hub and a leading international centre for business.”
However Herdman noted that the funding mechanism being chosen to pay for the expansion could well have the opposite effect.
“We are concerned about the proposed approach to finance the project, including an element of pre-funding the construction of the third runway through the imposition of significantly higher levies on passengers, even before the new runway comes into service.”
“There is a risk that Hong Kong could damage its own competitive position, particularly in relation to rival aviation hubs within the region. We would therefore urge the Hong Kong authorities to think carefully about the potential adverse effects of such an approach,” he added, urging airport authorities to explore alternative forms of funding.
