Hong Kong Travel Guide | LukeTravels.com

The new Chek Lap Kok 香港國際機場 airport sprawls over an entire island well removed from the city. If your hotel will not give you a lift, to get from the airport to your final destination, and back again, you can travel by Airport Express train, public bus, or taxi. The Airport Express trains run daily from 6 AM to 1 AM. A one-way ticket costs HK$90 to or from Kowloon, or HK$100 to or from Hong Kong station. Bus fare is about half as much as train fare and a cab ride can cost three times as much.

Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok is serviced by over a hundred international carriers. Travelers from North America have many choices: Northwest Airlines offers flights from all major U.S. cities via its Tokyo Narita hub. United Airlines offers non-stop flights to Chek Lap Kok from my hometown, Chicago. I took this flight back in 1998, and I believe this was the longest flight I have ever been on -- 16 hours-long! United also offers non-stop flights to Hong Kong from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Tokyo Narita. There are also numerous Asian air carriers who serve Hong Kong from many US cities. If you would like to find a low fare to Hong Kong, click here and create your itinerary.



Cathay Pacifc B747-400 \| 國泰航空有限公司 Cathay makes Hong Kong its main hub. The airline was founded in 1946. It operates a modern fleet of 101 aircraft with 102 destinations world-wide. Named best airline in 2003 and 2005. Airline of the year in 2006. [Photo © K. Ho]		Dragonair A330-300 \| 港龍航空有限公司 Dragonair is Hong Kong's second largest carrier. It was founded in 1985. Dragonair operates a fleet of 33 mostly wide-body aircraft. [Photo © M. Tang]



Oasis Hong Kong Airlines B747-400 甘泉香港航空有限公司 Newest addition to the Hong Kong Airport. Founded in October of 2006 with its inaugural flight to London UK. Oasis currently has two Boeing 747 aircraft in use. [Photo © K. L. Yim]		Hong Kong Airlines Limited B737-800 香港航空有限公司 Founded in 2001. Operates flights between Hong Kong airport and mainland China. Future routes will include flights to Japan and Korea. [Photo © K. L. Yim]



Northwest Airlines B747-400 Daily flights from USA on Delta Air Lines via Toyko Narita Japan. [Photo © C. Y. Li]		United Airlines B747-400 United offers non-stop flights to Hong Kong from Tokyo, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. United offered a non-stop New York City - Hong Kong flight back in 2001. [Photo © S. Lam]



Japan Airlines B777-300 日本航空インターナショナル JAL offers many frequencies between Hong Kong and Japan. [Photo © K. H. Ng]		China Airlines A330-200 \| 中華航空公司 Based in Taipei, Taiwan with focus cities in Hong Kong, Kaohsiung and Bangkok. [Photo © M. Tang]

I have visited many amazing airports around the world, however, Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok is by far the most spectacular human engineered wonder. It's size alone, takes your breath away. Be sure to follow signs closely, or better yet, follow the crowds, or else you'll get lost in the maze of elevators, escalators, numerous levels, and underground trams. No expense has been spared in ensuring that visitors to Hong Kong can get from the new airport at Chek Lap Kok to their final destination quickly and efficiently, regardless of where they are staying in the territory. To satisfy this demand required one of the world's most ambitious infrastructure programs - a HK$ 155.3 billion engineering project that included new rail lines, bridges and highways. Composed of ten projects, each a major construction and engineering effort in itself, this Airport Core Program (ACP) features, among other marvels, the new Tsing Ma Bridge, 30 kilometers of new highway, the high-speed Airport Express (AEL) railway and the airport itself.

In town Check-in (ITCI) Services
For enhanced convenience, check-in counters for all air-lines are located at both the Hong Kong and Kowloon stations of the Airport Express. Service is complimentary for AEL passengers.

Automated People Mover (APM)
This driverless shuttle train runs along the Passenger Terminal concourse providing easy access to distant aircraft gates. Each APM train can carry up to 200 passengers. There are two stations and the journey takes approximately 90 seconds.

Coach Terminal
The transportation Centre's coach terminal contains 18 pick-up bays and 52 bays for tour coaches.

Facilities for the Physically Challenged
The terminal has been designed to accommodate those with mobility and sensory disabilities. Free porter service and directional assistance is available Requests for assistance can be made to airport staff, at Information Counters or through Help Phones, Ramps and escalators facilitate changes of level within the terminal and lifts with audible indicators are available at all key areas as alternatives to escalators. Electric carts for use within the terminal can be obtained by contacting airlines or their handling agents. Check-in counters and immigration and customs zones have special needs facilities designed to aid passengers with disabilities. Public facilities such as toilets, e-phones also incorporate special features for disabled users. For the visually impaired, a tactile guide path has been installed on the departures curb and from the Airport Express platform through to Information Counters and selected Help Phones.

Flight Information Display Boards
Over 2,000 display boards and monitors in both English and Chinese are situated in strategic locations at both the Arrivals and Departures Levels to provide up-to-the-minute information on flight arrivals and departures. Flight information is also available from passenger information kiosks throughout the building.

Immigration
Operated by Hong Kong's Immigration Department, there are 128 immigration desks for arriving passengers and 96 for departing passengers. All visiting passengers are asked to check their visa requirements before traveling to Hong Kong. For inquiries, use the airport Help Phones.

Hong Kong Sky Mall
With 141 outlets offering a range of quality retailing at downtown prices, Hong Kong Sky Mall is one of the most exciting airport shopping malls in the world. A true mega-complex, Sky Mall offers 25 food and beverage outlets as well as shops in a 30,000-square meter, five-zone shopping environment.

Rail Link
Operated by the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC), the high-speed Airport Express (AEL) rail service takes passengers from Hong Kong Station in the Central business district to the airport, with two stops en route, in just 23 minutes. From the first stop, Kowloon Station, travel time to the airport is only 19 minutes. Travel time to the airport the second stop, Tsing Yi Station, is 12 minutes. One-way adult fare to/from the airport is HK$100 Hong Kong Island; HK$90 for Kowloon. Children's fare is approximately half. Free shuttle bus transfers to hotels is available for AEL users.

Taxis
Taxis to almost anywhere in Hong Kong are readily available. The taxi staging area can accommodate 530 vehicles. Red taxis serve Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, green taxis serve the new Territories and blue taxis serve Lantus Island. Since taxi routes and distances are subject to change, the following fares are estimates only :

Ferry Links
Ferry services operate between the airport and Tuen Mun in the New territories. These services will be expanded to other urban centers in time. Ferry services operate from 6 am to 10 pm daily at 20-to 30-minute intervals. The one-way fare is HK$15 (adults), HK$10 (children). Each trip takes about 15 minutes.

Hotel and Travel Agent Transfer
Visitors who have booked rooms in certain hotel and have arranged transport with the hotel can find hotel shuttle buses, limousines and cars in the central area of the airport's Transportation Centre. The southern end of the Transportation Centre is where tour buses are parked for visitors who have booked tours that begin from the arrival point at the airport.

Bus Service
There are 28 franchised bus routes serving the airport. Twenty-two are conventional lines primarily of use to local residents with numerous stops. Six are airbuses, primarily dedicated to departing and arriving airline passengers. They have fewer stops and stop at some hotels.