Tech features at Hong Kong’s Terminal 2 to enable efficient departures: transport chief Hong Kong is counting down to the “milestone” launch of the reconfigured second terminal at the airport on May 27, which will feature technology-led services to ease bottlenecks, the city’s transport minister has said. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Saturday that Terminal 2 was ready to serve travellers, highlighting new technologies that would streamline departures. The managing Airport Authority expects the revamped terminal to handle about 8 million passenger trips in the first year of operation. Last year, the entire airport handled 61 million passenger trips. “Hong Kong’s golden brand will reach another milestone with the opening of Terminal 2,” she said in a blog post on Saturday. Terminal 2 was reconfigured as part of the airport’s HK$141.5 billion (US$18.1 billion) three-runway system upgrade, designed to boost Hong Kong’s status as a global aviation hub by expanding capacity and improving efficiency amid strong competition in the region. Chan said Terminal 2 featured a slew of new technology: “The building is also equipped with more self-service facilities and technological devices, which align with the target customer base of the airlines moving in, emphasising youthfulness and dynamism,” she said. When it opens, travellers can go to Terminal 2 via Airport Express trains, airport buses, cross-boundary transport services and private cars. They can use the 68 self-service counters or 108 hybrid service counters to check in for their flights, and also use self bag-drop facilities before passing through electronic security gates into the restricted area. Travellers must then undergo security screenings, complete immigration procedures, take an automated people mover and proceed to boarding gates at Terminal 1. During non-service hours of the automated people mover system, between 12.30am and 5.30am, travellers will have to make their way to Terminal 1 on foot. The closest parking facility is Car Park 3, which is directly linked to Terminal 2. Chan also highlighted the efficiencies travellers would enjoy at the revamped terminal. “After checking in at self-service counters, passengers can leave their bags on a baggage belt, press a button on a bag-drop screen and instantly free up their hands as they proceed for departure and boarding,” she said. The new facility is aimed at easing pressure on Terminal 1, thereby reducing crowds in the departure hall. Fifteen airlines operating regional routes will move into Terminal 2 in stages between May 27 and June 10. They comprise home-grown carriers HK Express, Hong Kong Airlines and Greater Bay Airlines, as well as regional ones such as AirAsia, Batik Air (Malaysia), Hainan Airlines, Philippines AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Cambodia Airways, IndiGo, VietJet Air, Bangkok Airways, Jeju Air and Cebu Pacific. On Thursday, the Airport Authority conducted a drill at Terminal 2, with more than 1,100 participants from about 30 organisations, to ensure smooth operations when the new facility opens. Lawmaker Perry Yiu Pak-leung said he expected the revamped terminal to provide a better experience to travellers. Yiu also said the relocation of the 15 airlines would ease passenger congestion at Terminal 1. Last September, the authority opened the Coach Hall, an indoor passenger facility at Terminal 2 with expanded parking and pickup bays for tour buses, cross-boundary shuttle buses, limousines and resident coaches. A large connecting commercial project, 11 Skies, has also been built, but the authority told the South China Morning Post on Wednesday that the space would not be launched until 2028. It was previously scheduled to open in phases between 2022 and 2025. The authority said it was “communicating closely” with developer New World Development about the office, retail and entertainment complex. The authority also said it was aligning 11 Skies with its overall Skytopia project, a HK$100 billion mega development, by providing more entertainment and dining options in response to changes in consumer behaviour after the Covid-19 pandemic. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353804/tech-features-hong-kongs-terminal-2-enable-efficient-departures-transport-chief (ICE HONG KONG)

Fonte notizia: South China Morning Post