Hong Kong International Airport’s operator announced plans to establish a civil aviation academy to “nurture local and regional aviation management talent”.

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) is confident that the move will further strengthen Hong Kong’s edge as a major regional aviation hub.

“The aviation industry is an important economic contributor to Hong Kong,” says AAHK chairman, Jack So Chak-kwong.

“It is estimated that after the three-runway System is completed, it will provide 123,000 direct jobs associated with Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

“Setting up a civil aviation academy in time will help us develop the talent reserves the airport needs in order to meet its massive future traffic demands.

“This is key to ensuring that it has staff with professional training and experience, and that it continues to perform as the world’s best airport.”

Around 73,000 employees currently work at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).
According to the initial plan, the civil aviation academy will train operations management staff, technical staff and service staff to address the airport’s current staffing demands, as well as in the medium and long -terms.

AAHK says it will develop the training scopes, curriculum design and operational details of the civil aviation academy within the year.

It adds that it will continue to work closely with the government and other members of the aviation industry to launch the academy expediently.

Currently AAHK holds training programmes every year to nurture potential talent for the future development of both HKIA and the AA.

A total of 68.5 million passengers (+8.1%) used HKIA in 2015 as the gateway handled and 406,000 aircraft movements (+3.8%) and AAHK
estimates that the airport will reach its capacity within this year.

In response, AAHK will invest HK$40 billion over the next eight years to enhance HKIA’s facilities so the airport can meet its traffic demands before the completion of the Three-Runway System.

The HK$10-billion Midfield Concourse, which is built by the AA to meet HKIA’s medium-term demand, was completed and opened on schedule at the end of last year.