Hong Kong Airport Deepens Greater Bay Integration, Cargo Capabilities

HONG KONG—As Hong Kong begins to recover from Super Typhoon Ragasa that swept through the city on Sept. 24, its airport is pressing ahead with ambitious plans to deepen integration with the Greater Bay Area (GBA), expand its cargo capabilities and transform into a destination in its own right.

In an interview conducted prior to the storm and the start of Routes World 2025 in Hong Kong, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) CEO Vivian Cheung outlined how Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) is leveraging its strategic position to tap into the GBA’s vast economic potential. The region is home to more than 87 million people and has a GDP of nearly $2 trillion.

“Seeing the GBA as our home market, we are committed to seizing the opportunities and have been proactively strengthening connectivity with other GBA cities,” Cheung told Routes.

A cornerstone of this strategy is the airport’s partnership with Zhuhai Airport, following AAHK’s acquisition of a 35% stake last year. The collaboration enables the “Fly-Via-Zhuhai-Hong Kong” service, which allows mainland passengers to fly domestically to Zhuhai and then transfer via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge to HKG for international travel.

“This seamless and innovative ‘air-land-air’ transfer service connects the domestic network of Zhuhai Airport with HKG’s extensive global reach,” Cheung said. “It effectively extends HKG’s connectivity to airports across mainland China.”

HKG also continues to lead globally in cargo, handling around 70% of the GBA’s international freight. Cheung highlighted the success of the sea-air intermodal transshipment service between the airport and the Dongguan Logistics Park, which processed cargo valued at RMB30 billion ($4 billion) from April 2023 to June 2025.

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“Construction of the permanent facility for the logistics park began in July this year, with the first phase targeted to commence operations in the first half of 2027,” she said. The new facility will feature autonomous guided vehicles and customized containers, aiming to reduce cargo handling costs by 50% and processing time by one-third.

Despite global trade headwinds, HKG’s cargo volumes rose 1.9% year on year in the first half of 2025. While North American volumes declined, growth in Australasia, Europe and the Middle East helped to offset the drop.

“E-commerce is fundamentally changing the patterns of global trade,” Cheung said. “HKG’s strategy is to collaborate with industry partners to develop into Asia’s leading e-commerce fulfillment hub.”

Major logistics players including Cainiao, DHL and UPS are expanding their presence, with new facilities and hubs scheduled to open between 2026 and 2028. A new transit mail center will also support cross-boundary e-commerce parcels from mainland China to global destinations.

To support rising demand for imported perishables, HKG launched the Air-Land Fresh Lane in April 2025, streamlining the transport of live and chilled seafood and fruits into the GBA via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

Beyond aviation, HKG is evolving into a destination under the Airport City blueprint. The newly branded Skytopia development will integrate entertainment, culture and business across a series of landmark projects.

“HKG is no longer merely a place where passengers get on or off a plane,” Cheung said. “We aim to transform the airport into a destination in its own right and attract more passengers to transfer at the airport.”

Skytopia will feature Hong Kong’s largest yacht marina, a 20,000-seat indoor performance venue, a gourmet Jet Fresh Market and the city’s first one-stop art hub. A marine resort, luxury hotel and smart transport systems are also planned.

“With these innovative developments, Skytopia is set to become a world-class destination,” Cheung said. “HKG will serve as a powerful engine driving the city’s economic growth.”