Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) officially reopened the departure facilities of its expanded Terminal 2 (T2) on Wednesday, May 27th, with Hong Kong Airlines becoming the first carrier to relocate operations to the upgraded terminal. A total of 15 airlines are scheduled to complete their move by mid-June.
The HK$12.9 billion ($1.65 billion) expansion project equips T2 with 108 check-in counters, 68 self-service baggage drop kiosks, and 15 smart security screening lanes. Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) reported smooth morning operations and expects approximately 4,200 passengers to use the facility on its opening day. Arrival facilities at T2 are slated to begin operations within 2027, at which point the terminal will be fully operational.
HKIA recorded 61 million passenger movements in 2025, representing year-on-year growth of approximately 15 percent. Once fully commissioned, T2 will handle 30 million passengers annually, bringing the combined capacity of Terminals 1 and 2 to 100 million passengers per year.
The terminal’s reopening carries direct implications for Macau, which depends heavily on HKIA as a gateway for international visitors. The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is currently running its free direct coach ticket program from HKIA’s SkyPier to Macau via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. The scheme, launched on January 20th and following similar initiatives in 2024 and 2025, runs through December 31st and is available to non-Greater China residents.
