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May 11th, 2015:

T2 to `close for four years’

http://thestandard.com.hk/news_print.asp?art_id=156860&sid=44436090

Hong Kong International Airport’s Terminal 2 which has been in operation for 13 years will be completely shut down for four years from 2019 as part of expansion work in preparation for the third runway.

 

Hong Kong International Airport’s Terminal 2 which has been in operation for 13 years will be completely shut down for four years from 2019 as part of expansion work in preparation for the third runway.

The HK$2.8 billion Terminal 2 started operation in February 2002, serving 27 airlines.

An Airport Authority spokesman told Sing Tao Daily, sister paper of The Standard, that Terminal 2 is 90 percent full, with at least 80 shops and 20 restaurants. “It is nearly completely rented out.”

But a source close to the authority said it will be “totally closed for expansion work for four years to carry out improvement work” if construction for the third runway starts as planned next year.

The expansion will include restructuring the main building of Terminal 2, and constructing two additional annex buildings.

According to the third runway system design announced earlier, Terminal 2 will be modified and expanded for providing a full-service processing terminal and construction of an associated road network.

The services will include handling arrivals, departures and transfers. And the two new annex buildings will be reserved for coach staging, car parking, loading and unloading bays, and a limousine lounge.

He said extra facilities will be put into services in Terminal 1, such as airline check-in counters and temporary coach stations for easing the problems brought by the expansion work.

The spokesman said the authority expects the new Terminal 2 to start operation in 2023.

The current Terminal 2 only handles departures but not arrivals and also lacks facilities for baggage handling.

It also does not have facilities for boarding. This forces passengers, after completing their check in, to take the automated people-mover systems or the train back to Terminal 1 for their flights.

According to the spokesman, about 3.2 million people checked in at Terminal 2 last year.

As of last month, a total of 27 airlines provide check-in services at Terminal 2.