Owais Crawford
Hong Kong's Kai Tak Airport, nestled among rugged mountains and Victoria Harbour, was more than just an airport. It was a city symbol, an iconic international travel hub, and a civic treasure. Serving Hong Kong for 73 years, it was known for its hair-raising landings, with planes making a steep 45-degree turn at low altitudes, just above densely populated neighbourhoods. In 1998, Kai Tak closed its doors, making way for a larger and more modern airport. But even after two decades, the memory of Kai Tak lingers, with some still considering it one of the most exciting and terrifying airports in the world. So, is Kai Tak Airport still used?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current status | Closed since 6 July 1998 |
| Years of operation | 73 years |
| Replacement | Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok |
| Current use of the land | Retail development, recreation facility, cruise terminal, public housing, private residential development, hospital, railway station |
| Runway | 13/31 |
| Runway length at the time of closure | 3,390 m (11,120 ft) |
| Approach | Checkerboard approach, Stonecutters' NDB approach |
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What You'll Learn
Kai Tak Airport closed in 1998
Hong Kong's Kai Tak airport closed 25 years ago in 1998. It was replaced by the Hong Kong International Airport, a much larger and more modern airport located on Chek Lap Kok, which opened on 6 July 1998.
Kai Tak served Hong Kong for 73 years and was a city symbol, known for its hair-raising landings and take-offs. The airport was located in the middle of the city, surrounded by rugged mountains, Victoria Harbour, and the densely populated Kowloon City. This made for a dramatic and challenging landing approach, especially when navigating unpredictable winds, rain, and typhoons.
The approach to Runway 13, also known as the "Checkerboard" or "Chequerboard" approach, involved a low-altitude, steep turn over the heavily populated city. This turn became famous, especially for aviation enthusiasts, as it was the only major airport in the world that required a 45-degree (or 47-degree, according to some sources) turn below 500 feet to line up with the runway.
Cathay Pacific Airways, which began operations in 1946, was the last carrier to take off from Kai Tak airport in 1998. Since its closure, the Kai Tak site has been redeveloped for various purposes, including a cruise ship terminal, public and private housing, a hospital, and a Mass Transit Railway (MTR) station.
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The airport was replaced by Hong Kong International Airport
Kai Tak Airport was Hong Kong's infamously difficult and dangerous international airport to take off and land from between 1925 and 1998. The airport was located on the eastern side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon, Hong Kong, and was surrounded by rugged mountains, Victoria Harbour, and Hong Kong Island. Due to its unique geographical location, landing at the airport was technically demanding and considered scary by many.
The airport was designed to handle 24 million passengers per year, but in 1996, Kai Tak handled 29.5 million passengers, plus 1.56 million tonnes of freight, making it the third busiest airport in the world in terms of international passenger traffic and the busiest in terms of international cargo throughput. The noise pollution in the neighbouring areas was also severe, recording up to 100 decibels every day. In addition, clearance requirements for aircraft takeoffs and landings imposed height restrictions on buildings in Kowloon. As a result, in the late 1980s, the Hong Kong Government began searching for alternative locations for a new airport.
The new Hong Kong International Airport, located at Chek Lap Kok on Lantau Island, opened in July 1998 and replaced Kai Tak Airport. The new airport is much larger and more modern, with a three-runway system that can accommodate up to 120 million passengers annually. It is considered one of the best airports in the world and is located far outside the urban sprawl.
After Kai Tak Airport's closure, the land was used for residential, commercial, and recreational developments. The Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, public housing estates, private residential developments, a small park, and a new hospital have been built on the former airport site. The Regal Meridien Hong Kong Airport Hotel, which was linked to the passenger terminal, still exists under the new name of the Regal Oriental Hotel. A new Mass Transit Railway (MTR) station, Kai Tak, also opened on the former airport land in 2020.
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Kai Tak's runway was located in the middle of Kowloon Bay
Kai Tak Airport, located in Hong Kong, was a city symbol known to travellers worldwide. It was situated on the eastern side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon, with Victoria Harbour to the south and Hong Kong Island further south. The airport was surrounded by rugged mountains, with hills reaching an elevation of 2,000 feet to the north and northeast, and 2,100 feet to the south.
The runway, numbered 13/31, was oriented southeast-northwest and was made by reclaiming land from the harbour. It underwent several extensions after its initial construction, starting at 2,529 metres in 1958 and reaching 3,390 metres when the airport closed in 1998. The runway was built to accommodate increasing demands on the airport, and its descent into Victoria Harbour earned the nickname "Kai Tak Heart Attack".
The challenging approach to Kai Tak's runway was due to the surrounding geographical features, including mountains, seas, and unpredictable winds. Pilots had to navigate steep turns, strong crosswinds, and sometimes typhoons. Despite these difficulties, Kai Tak's 73 years of operation were marked by several accidents, some of which were fatal.
After the airport's closure in 1998, the site underwent redevelopment. In 2013, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal opened on the tip of the former runway, and public housing estates and private residential developments were constructed on the land. A new hospital, the Hong Kong Children's Hospital, and a Mass Transit Railway (MTR) station named Kai Tak were also established in the area.
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The airport is now used as a cruise ship terminal
Hong Kong's Kai Tak Airport, which served the city for 73 years, was retired in 1998. The airport was replaced by the Hong Kong International Airport, located at Chek Lap Kok, which is considered one of the best airports in the world.
In 2013, 15 years after the airport closed, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal was opened on the tip of the former runway. The new terminal, which cost around $1 billion, was designed by the architectural firm of Norman Foster, who also designed the larger airport that replaced Kai Tak. The terminal is located at the southern end of the old runway, which juts out into Victoria Harbour. The first ship to dock at the terminal was the Mariner of the Seas, a 15-deck, 310-metre-long vessel operated by Royal Caribbean International, carrying over 3,000 passengers.
The new terminal features rooftop gardens, which offer stunning views of the surrounding area. However, due to the lack of public transportation connections at the time of its opening, the terminal was somewhat difficult to access for ordinary visitors. The nearest neighbourhoods, Kwun Tong and Kowloon Bay, are also somewhat rundown, which may have impacted the terminal's accessibility.
The development of the former airport site into a cruise terminal is a bet on Asia's growing appetite for travel and is expected to boost the local economy. In addition to the cruise terminal, the site has also been redeveloped for other purposes, including residential and recreational use.
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Kai Tak was known for its difficult landing approach
Kai Tak Airport, located in Hong Kong, was known for its dramatic and challenging landing approach. The approach for landing on Runway 13, known as the Chequerboard Approach, was particularly infamous and challenging. It required a low-altitude, sharp 45- to 47-degree turn over the densely populated Kowloon City, just two nautical miles from the runway. This manoeuvre was unique among major airports, and pilots would train specifically for it. The turn was made around Checkerboard Hill, a visual marker for pilots to begin their final approach.
The Chequerboard Approach began to the southwest of the airport, with aircraft flying westbound at a minimum altitude of 6,000 feet. They would then intercept the localiser for the runway and turn right towards Kai Tak, flying over Kowloon Tsai Park, where Checkerboard Hill is located. The final approach then took the aircraft just tens of meters over the apartment buildings and bustling streets surrounding the airport.
The dramatic approach made Kai Tak Airport one of the world's most exciting and terrifying airports to fly into. It was located in the central, built-up city area, surrounded by rugged mountains and Victoria Harbour. The airport's location made it challenging for pilots, especially during bad weather or typhoons, which could make landing a "real handful."
In addition to the famous Chequerboard Approach, there was a lesser-known approach that led aircraft over the Stonecutters' NDB, requiring a ~90-degree turn to line up with Runway 13. This approach was rarely used, as it lacked the same navigational aids as the Chequerboard Approach.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Kai Tak Airport is no longer used. It closed in 1998 after 73 years of service and was replaced by the Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok.
After its closure, Kai Tak Airport was used as a retail development and recreation facility. In 2013, the former airport site was converted into a cruise ship terminal, with the rest of the area being developed for residential and commercial use.
Kai Tak Airport was known for its unique location, nestled between the sea and mountains in a densely populated city. The approach to Runway 13 involved a steep 45-degree turn at low altitude, just above the rooftops of Kowloon City, making it a popular spot for plane spotters.
Kai Tak Airport's capacity became strained as Hong Kong's urban area expanded. The airport couldn't keep up with the city's growth, and a new, larger airport was built farther from the city centre to replace it.
