4 PRACTICAL MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF HKIA’S TWO-RUNWAY SYSTEM • Mixed operation – both arrivals and departures are allowed on each runway. NATS concluded that given HKIA’s special circumstances (for example, terrain constraint surrounding HKIA including the Lantau Peak, Lo Fu Tau and Sunset Peak on Lantau Island as well as Tai Mo Shan and Castle Peak, congested and complicated airspace management, the aircraft mix at HKIA, etc.) and to remain fully in compliance with ICAO’s safety and minimum separation requirements, the practical maximum runway capacity of HKIA can only be increased from 61 to 68 ATMs per hour by 2015 regardless of the mode of operation. This has been verified and accepted by CAD. On the basis of 68 ATMs per hour, NATS assessed that the practical maximum daily movements is about 1,200 per day. This assessment was based on the historical flight movement pattern of a typical busy day and having taken into account – (a) Alternate closure of the two runways each night for about 8 hours for routine maintenance; (b) The matching of slot availability at HKIA and the destination airports; (c) Typical hourly fluctuations of a busy day; and (d) Provision for recovery periods to cater for operational delays. The practical maximum daily movements of 1,200 can be translated into the practical maximum annual movements of 420,000, taking into account the historical seasonal adjustment of flight movements by airlines as reflected in their flight schedule published twice a year for the summer and winter seasons respectively. The practical maximum annual movement capacity is expected to be reached sometime between 2019 and 2022 as indicated in Figure 4.2. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS To support HKIA’s continued growth, we have committed HK$9.3 billion to the first phase of the Midfield Development which will enable HKIA to optimally accommodate, in terms of both its terminal and apron facilities, approximately 60 million passengers and 5 million tonnes of cargo per year. This is mainly to meet the additional passenger and freighter aircraft stands demand in the interim, while maintaining HKIA’s high service standards. The project involves – (a) The construction of 20 aircraft parking stands including 11 airbridge-served stands, as well as an “I-shaped” passenger concourse at the Midfield; Figure 4.2 Forecast Air Traffic Movements to Reach the Two-Runway Capacity Between 2019 and 2022 ATMs/Year 700,000 600,000 2019 500,000 Capacity of Two Runways 400,000 300,000 200,000 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2022 CAGR 2008-2030 3.6% 3.2% 2.8% 2028 2029 Low Base High 24 2030