Ruth Haines
Hong Kong's Kai Tak Airport, officially known as Hong Kong International Airport, was an airport in Hong Kong from 1925 until its closure in 1998. The airport was located on the eastern side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon, Hong Kong, and was known for its challenging approach due to the surrounding mountainous terrain, water, and tall apartment buildings. The airport gained a reputation for being dangerous, and it was replaced by the new Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok, located away from residential areas. The last flight to depart Kai Tak Airport was on July 6, 1998, and the airport has since been torn down, with the site being redeveloped for other purposes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Hong Kong International Airport |
| Other Names | Hong Kong International Airport, Kai Tak, Kai Tak International Airport |
| Location | Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong |
| Years of Operation | 1925/1928-1998 |
| Final Year of Operation | 1998 |
| Date of Closure | 6 July 1998 |
| Time of Closure | 12:02 am |
| Final Flight | Cathay Pacific's flight CX251 to London |
| Number of Passengers in Final Year | 30 million |
| Replacement | Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok |
| Replacement Location | Chek Lap Kok Island |
| Distance Between Kai Tak and Replacement | 30 kilometres |
| Reason for Closure | Hong Kong's rapid growth and the inability of Kai Tak to cope |
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What You'll Learn
Kai Tak Airport's final closure in 1998
Kai Tak Airport, officially known as Hong Kong International Airport, was one of the world's busiest and most exciting airports. However, its challenging location—surrounded by water on three sides and with a densely populated urban area nearby—made it notoriously dangerous for aircraft landings and takeoffs.
The airport's unique approach, which included a low-altitude 45-degree turn over Kowloon City, was thrilling for plane spotters and pilots but was likely less so for insurance companies. The airport's reputation for being dangerous was further cemented by the twelve air disasters that occurred there, resulting in a total of 270 fatalities.
The airport's closure in 1998 was due to Hong Kong's rapid growth and the airport's inability to cope. By 1996, Kai Tak was handling 29.5 million passengers and 1.56 million tons of freight annually, making it the third-busiest airport in the world for both passenger traffic and air freight. The airport's limited land area also meant that new runways could only be built through land reclamation, which faced opposition from the public.
On July 6, 1998, the final flight departed Kai Tak Airport at 12:02 am, marking the airport's official closure. The last aircraft, a Cathay Pacific Airbus A340, departed for a ferry flight to the new Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok, located on an island off Lantau Island. The new airport was bigger and more modern, and it addressed the safety concerns associated with Kai Tak's location. The relocation operation was a massive undertaking, requiring over 1,100 vehicle trips, 14 barge flights, and 30 airplanes.
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The airport's dangerous reputation
Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong was known as one of the most dangerous airports in the world. The airport, which operated from 1925 until 1998, was located on the eastern side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The area is surrounded by rugged mountains, with hills reaching an elevation of 2,000 feet (610 m) less than 4 km (2.5 mi) to the north and northeast of the runway.
The checkerboard approach got its name from Checkerboard Hill, a hill next to the airport that displayed a checkered flag signalling to pilots when to begin their turn for the runway. This turn was a heart-attack-inducing nightmare for many pilots, as it brought them into close proximity to the ground and the surrounding residential buildings. In fact, the low-altitude turning manoeuvre before the final approach was so low that passengers could spot television sets in the nearby apartments, as recalled by one source:
> "...as the plane banked sharply to the right for landing ... the people watching television in the nearby apartments seemed an unsettling arm's length away."
In addition to the challenging approach and landing procedures, Kai Tak Airport also had a history of accidents and incidents. On 24 August 1965, a United States Marine Corps C-130 Hercules crashed shortly after takeoff from runway 13, killing 59 of the 71 people on board. This was the deadliest crash at Kai Tak. On 30 June 1967, a Thai Airways International Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle III crashed into Victoria Harbour while trying to land during a torrential rainstorm, killing 24 people. On 4 November 1993, a China Airlines Boeing 747-400 overran the runway while landing amid gale-force winds during a typhoon, resulting in 23 minor injuries out of 396 passengers and crew.
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The airport's history and development
Kai Tak Airport, officially known as Hong Kong International Airport, was located on the eastern side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The airport's history began in 1912 when two businessmen, Ho Kai and Au Tak, formed the Kai Tak Investment Company to reclaim land in Kowloon for development. Their plans never came to fruition, and the government purchased the land for an airfield.
In 1924, Harry Abbott opened a flying school at the airfield, which was later shared with other flying clubs and the British Royal Air Force. In 1928, a grass airstrip was joined by a concrete slipway to accommodate seaplanes landing in Kowloon Bay. The first recorded flight from the site took place in 1925, and in 1935, an aircraft hangar and control tower were added, allowing for the arrival of Hong Kong's first international passenger flight in 1936.
During World War II, Japan invaded Hong Kong and used captured prisoners of war to build two concrete runways. The Kowloon walled city and a 148-foot-tall monument to the last Song dynasty emperor were destroyed to obtain building materials. After the war, Kai Tak Airport became a naval shore base for the British Royal Navy, who renamed it Royal Naval Air Station HMS Flycatcher.
In the early 1950s, the airport began accommodating commercial flights, and by 1957, runway 13/31 had been lengthened to 5,459 feet. In 1958, Hong Kong reclaimed land in Kowloon Bay to build an 8,350-foot-long runway, replacing the two older runways. A new passenger terminal opened in 1962, and by the mid-1970s, the runway had been extended again to 11,130 feet.
By 1980, the airport was at its capacity limit, and discussions arose about building a new airport. Kai Tak Airport was surrounded by rugged mountains, water, and eventually tall apartment buildings, making it well known for its hair-raising approach. It was one of the last major airports where pilots had to rely on basic flying skills, and its challenging location claimed several aircraft over the years.
The airport finally closed on July 6, 1998, after 73 years of operations, due to Hong Kong's rapid growth and the limitations of the Kai Tak site. The last flight to depart was Cathay Pacific's flight CX251 to London. The new Hong Kong International Airport, located on Chek Lap Kok island, became operational on the same day, inheriting the runway and IATA code of Kai Tak.
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The airport's replacement
Kai Tak Airport's replacement was the new Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) on Chek Lap Kok island, 30 kilometres (19 mi) west of its predecessor. The new airport was built on reclaimed and levelled land around the islands of Chek Lap Kok and Lam Chau. The new location was selected to alleviate noise and pollution concerns, as well as to reduce the risk of accidents in a densely populated area.
The new airport was completed and put into operation on July 6, 1998, the same day that Kai Tak officially closed. The last flight to arrive at Kai Tak was Dragonair's flight KA841, which landed at 11:39 p.m. on July 5. The last flight to depart was Cathay Pacific's flight CX251, bound for London, which took off at 12:02 a.m. on July 6. A runway light-off ceremony was held shortly after, officially closing the airport.
The new Hong Kong International Airport offered a bigger and more modern facility compared to Kai Tak. By 1996, two years before its closure, Kai Tak was already handling 29.5 million passengers and 1.56 million tons of freight annually, making it the third-busiest airport in the world for both passenger traffic and air freight. The new airport was designed to accommodate Hong Kong's rapid growth and provided the capacity needed to handle the increasing volume of passengers and cargo.
The unique approach to Kai Tak, with its challenging location surrounded by water and apartment buildings, had made it a favourite among plane spotters and pilots. However, its closure was inevitable due to the limitations imposed by its location and the inability to expand further. The new airport has since achieved numerous accolades and is frequently named one of the top five airports in the world.
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The airport's location and its limitations
Kai Tak Airport was located on the eastern side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The airport was surrounded by rugged mountains, with a range of hills reaching an elevation of 2,000 ft (610 m) less than 4 km (2.5 mi) to its north and northeast. To the east, the hills were less than 3 km (1.9 mi) away. Immediately to the south of the airport was Victoria Harbour, with Hong Kong Island and its hills located further south.
The airport's location presented several limitations and challenges. One of the most notable challenges was the limited space available for expansion. The airport was initially located away from residential areas, but as both the airport and the surrounding residential areas expanded, Kai Tak found itself surrounded by apartment complexes and other buildings. This led to serious noise and engine pollution issues for nearby residents and placed height restrictions on nearby structures.
The unique geography of the area also impacted aircraft operations. The mountains to the north-east of the airport meant that planes could not fly over them and quickly drop in for a final approach. Instead, they had to perform a low-altitude manoeuvre, including a famous 45-degree turn over Kowloon City to line up with the runway. This turn took planes directly over residential areas, providing passengers with a voyeuristic experience as they could see into the apartments below.
The limited space also impacted the design and operation of the airport itself. The fuel tank farm, for example, had to be located between the passenger terminal and the HAECO maintenance hangar due to space constraints. Additionally, the airport's single runway in use at the time of its closure, numbered 13/31, was oriented southeast-northwest and had to be extended several times to accommodate larger aircraft.
The growth of Hong Kong also put a strain on the airport's capacity. In 1996, Kai Tak handled 29.5 million passengers and 1.56 million tonnes of freight, exceeding its designed capacity of 24 million passengers per year. This congestion, along with the challenges posed by its location, ultimately led to the decision to close Kai Tak Airport and move operations to a new, larger airport located away from the city's residential areas.
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Frequently asked questions
Kai Tak Airport officially closed on July 6, 1998, after 73 years of operation.
The airport closed because of Hong Kong's rapid growth and the inability of Kai Tak to cope. The airport was handling nearly 30 million passengers per year, making it the third-busiest airport in the world for passenger traffic and air freight. The new airport is located on the island of Chek Lap Kok, away from main residential areas, thus reducing noise and pollution concerns.
The retired facility was renamed the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in 2013 and is now the largest cruise terminal in Hong Kong.
