Hong Kong started flight operations on its third runway on Thursday, with officials saying it will keep the city's airport competitive as an aviation hub despite its lagging post-pandemic recovery. Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific said this week that it will reach 100 percent of pre-pandemic flights in January.

Three-runway system . The airport's three-runway system, worth $18 billion, took 13 years to complete, from the initiation of public consultation to full operational status. The a

Hong Kong started flight operations on its third runway on Thursday, with officials saying it will keep the city's airport competitive as an aviation hub.

Hong Kong International Airport has started simultaneous three-runway operations for the first time allowing more aircraft to take off and land together.

Hong Kong International Airport is the world's busiest cargo airport, but has fallen from its pre-pandemic status as the third busiest for international seats

One of Hong Kong's largest infrastructure projects in recent years, the three-runway system involved the 3,800-meter third runway, an expansion of Terminal 2 passenger building, a new concourse, an automated people mover system, and a baggage handling system. The third runway was put into operation in July 2022.

Hong Kong airport has formally commissioned its three-runway system, capping nearly a decade of work to boost capacity.

Hong Kong’s third airport runway officially starts operating on Thursday, but there’ll be hardly any additional flight capacity for at least another year.

City leader says aviation capacity must ‘soar’, but challenges remain for carriers as long-haul market recovery drags on amid Russia-Ukraine war.