Jazmin Li
Hong Kong's old airport, Kai Tak International Airport, was located on the eastern side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was built on reclaimed land in 1925 and closed in 1998. The airport was known for its challenging approach to a runway in the middle of Kowloon Bay, surrounded by mountains and water on three sides, with apartment complexes and skyscrapers nearby. The retired airport site has since been redeveloped, including the construction of a sports park, a hospital, and a Mass Transit Railway (MTR) station.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Kai Tak Airport |
| Location | Eastern side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon, Hong Kong |
| Years of Operation | 1925–1998 |
| Successor | Chek Lap Kok International Airport |
| Difficulty of Landing | Notoriously difficult due to surrounding mountains, water, and skyscrapers |
| Runway | One runway in use at the time of closing, numbered 13/31 |
| Airlines | Cathay Pacific, Dragonair (Cathay Dragon), Air Hong Kong, Hong Kong Airways, RAF Kai Tak, Hong Kong Aviation Club |
| Current Use of Land | Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, Kai Tak Sky Garden, Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Mass Transit Railway station |
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What You'll Learn
Hong Kong's Kai Tak Airport closed in 1998
Hong Kong's Kai Tak Airport, officially known as Hong Kong International Airport, closed its doors on July 6, 1998, after serving the city for 73 years. The airport was located on the eastern side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon, Hong Kong, surrounded by rugged mountains and the Victoria Harbour. It was known for its unique and challenging approach, with a tight, curved path that required a low-altitude turning manoeuvre, skimming rooftops and passing through a narrow corridor between mountains and skyscrapers.
The decision to close Kai Tak Airport was made due to its limitations in accommodating the increasing air traffic and lack of room for expansion. The new and bigger Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok, located 30 kilometres (19 mi) to the west, was built on reclaimed land to address these issues. The new airport offered a more spacious and modern facility, providing a stark contrast to the challenging landings and tight spaces of Kai Tak.
The final departure from Kai Tak Airport was a Cathay Pacific (CX) flight CX3340, an Airbus A340-300, which took off from runway 13 at 01:05 am on July 6, 1998, marking the end of an era. A small ceremony was held in the airport's Control Tower, where Anson Chan, Hong Kong's Chief Secretary, and Richard Siegel, Director of Civil Aviation, bid farewell and turned off the runway lights.
The closure of Kai Tak Airport marked a significant moment in Hong Kong's aviation history. The airport had become a symbol of the city, known worldwide for its unique approach and exciting landings. Despite the challenges it posed, Kai Tak held a special place in the hearts of many, with fond memories of its remarkable aviation feats.
Today, the former airport land has been redeveloped, featuring a hospital, a Mass Transit Railway (MTR) station, the Kai Tak Sports Park, and the Kai Tak Sky Garden, an elevated garden offering a serene escape from the bustling city.
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The airport was replaced by Chek Lap Kok International Airport
Hong Kong's old airport, Kai Tak, was replaced by the Chek Lap Kok International Airport in 1998. The new airport is located on the island of Chek Lap Kok, which is in the western waters of Hong Kong's New Territories. The island was partially levelled and combined with the smaller Lam Chau to form a 12.48-square-kilometre (4.82-square-mile) island for the new airport. This construction project added nearly 1% to Hong Kong's total surface area.
The new airport was designed to address the challenges of the old Kai Tak Airport, which was known for its difficult approach to a runway in the middle of Kowloon Bay. The runway at Kai Tak was surrounded by rugged mountains, Victoria Harbour, and the city of Kowloon, making it challenging for pilots to manoeuvre. The new airport in Chek Lap Kok offers a more spacious and modern facility, with 88 boarding gates and one of the world's largest passenger terminal buildings.
Chek Lap Kok International Airport, also known as Hong Kong International Airport, opened for commercial aviation in July 1998. It is considered one of the best airports in the world, known for its dining options and cargo operations. The airport is an important contributor to Hong Kong's economy, employing about 60,000 people and generating US$33 billion, or 10.2% of Hong Kong's GDP, in 2018.
The construction of the new airport was part of the Airport Core Programme, which included new roads, rail links, bridges, tunnels, and land reclamation projects. The project holds the record for the most expensive airport project ever, according to the Guinness World Records. The former Kai Tak Airport site has been redeveloped, with a new Mass Transit Railway (MTR) station, a sports park, and an elevated garden opening in recent years.
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Kai Tak was located on the eastern side of Kowloon Bay
Kai Tak Airport, the former international airport of Hong Kong, was located on the eastern side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The airport was built on reclaimed land in Kowloon Bay, with Victoria Harbour to the south and Hong Kong Island further to the south. The airport was surrounded by rugged mountains, with hills reaching an elevation of 2,000 feet (610 metres) less than 4 kilometres to the north and northeast of the former runway.
The airport's unique location posed several challenges for pilots, with water on three sides of the runway and Kowloon City's residential apartment complexes to the northwest. This meant that aircraft could not fly over the mountains and quickly descend for the final approach. Instead, they had to fly above Victoria Harbour and Kowloon City, making a sharp 65-degree left turn after takeoff to avoid the hills.
The approach to Kai Tak Airport was particularly memorable for both pilots and passengers, with aircraft flying low over the densely populated city. The airport's runway was also relatively short, and pilots had to manoeuvre steeply to align with the runway and avoid ending up in the water. These factors made Kai Tak Airport one of the most difficult airports in the world for pilots to navigate.
Despite these challenges, Kai Tak Airport was a symbol of Hong Kong and was well-loved by many. It served as the city's main air hub for 73 years before closing in 1998, with operations moving to the new Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok. Today, the former airport site is home to a cruise terminal, a sports park, an elevated garden, and a Mass Transit Railway (MTR) station.
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It was known for its notoriously difficult landing approach
Hong Kong's old airport, Kai Tak, was known for its notoriously difficult landing approach. Located on the eastern side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon, Hong Kong, the airport was surrounded by rugged mountains, hills, and water on three sides of the runway. This geography posed a significant challenge for pilots, as they could not simply fly over the mountains and make a standard straight-in approach.
The approach to Runway 13, also known as the "Kai Tak Heart Attack" or the "Hong Kong Turn," was particularly infamous. Planes had to make a sharp, low-altitude turn at less than 150 feet (45 meters) above the ground, often with strong crosswinds and varying wind conditions due to the nearby mountain range. This turn was so low that passengers could see into the windows of nearby apartments and even spot television sets in people's homes.
The landing procedure was further complicated by the presence of skyscrapers and heavily populated areas surrounding the airport. Pilots had to manoeuvre steeply, just above the roofs of buildings, before hitting the brakes hard to avoid ending up in the water. This made Kai Tak a popular spot for plane spotters, who could witness large aircraft banking at low altitudes during their final approaches.
The difficult approach to Kai Tak was not limited to Runway 13. Runway 31, which was used for landings early in the morning for noise abatement, also presented challenges. Pilots taking off from Runway 31 had to make a sharp 65-degree left turn to avoid a range of hills directly in front of the aircraft.
The unique lighting pattern at Kai Tak further added to the complexity of landings, especially in heavy rain or low-visibility conditions. Some pilots would appear out of low clouds, power up, and then vanish back into the clouds, leading to worrying moments for those on the ground.
Despite these challenges, Kai Tak was, for a time, the third busiest airport in the world, handling 29.5 million international passengers and 1.56 million tons of international cargo in 1996. It left fond memories for those who witnessed its remarkable landings or had the chance to fly through it.
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The site of the old airport is now a cruise terminal
Hong Kong's old airport, Kai Tak, was located on the eastern side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was known for its difficult runway approaches, which required pilots to manoeuvre steeply just above heavily populated residential areas of Kowloon City. The airport was surrounded by rugged mountains, with Victoria Harbour to the south and Hong Kong Island further south.
Kai Tak Airport officially closed its doors on 6 July 1998, after serving Hong Kong for 73 years. Its operations were moved to the new, bigger, and more modern Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok. The closure of Kai Tak Airport marked the end of an era, as it was considered one of the most challenging airports in the world for pilots to navigate due to its unique location and approach requirements.
In 2013, the former Kai Tak Airport site was transformed into the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, the largest cruise terminal in Hong Kong. The terminal handles both international and domestic cruise operations, providing a gateway for passengers to explore Hong Kong and beyond. The transformation of the site into a cruise terminal has breathed new life into the area, offering a different mode of transportation and travel experiences for locals and visitors alike.
In addition to the cruise terminal, the former airport land has also been redeveloped to include a range of new facilities. A new Mass Transit Railway (MTR) station, named Kai Tak, opened in 2020 as part of the Tuen Ma line. The area also boasts the Kai Tak Sports Park, which opened in 2025 and is the largest sports venue in Hong Kong, with a 50,000-seat main stadium, an indoor sports centre, a public sports ground, and multiple open spaces. Healthcare facilities have also been established, with the Hong Kong Children's Hospital opening in 2013, offering comprehensive medical services to the community.
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Frequently asked questions
The old Hong Kong airport, Kai Tak International Airport, was located on the eastern side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Kai Tak International Airport closed its doors on July 6, 1998, after serving Hong Kong for 73 years.
The former airport site has been redeveloped for various purposes. A new Mass Transit Railway (MTR) station opened on the former airport land in 2020. The Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong's largest sports venue, was built on the land and opened in March 2025. The retired airport facility was also converted into the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in 2013.
