Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) announced that all three runways will commence operation by the end of this year.
In accordance with aerodrome licensing requirements, HKIA said it recently conducted an aircraft crash and rescue exercise for the first time on the reconfigured Centre Runway.
Over 1,000 representatives from more than 20 organisations and government departments joined the exercise, with Cathay Pacific as the participating airline and volunteers role-played as passengers and families of affected passengers.
Steven Yiu, executive director of Airport Operations of AAHK, noted that Hong Kong International Airport always prioritizes safety.
"The exercise provided a valuable opportunity for AAHK and the airport community, participating government departments and organisations to test and familiarise themselves with emergency procedures and test our preparedness for contingencies on the reconfigured Centre Runway under three-runway operation. We thank all parties for their active participation in this exercise, and getting prepared for the three-runway operation," he said.
HKIA noted that it conducts over 100 drills, exercises and training seminars annually.
It has also added 50 additional exercises for the operation of the three-runway system, covering various operational disruptions and emergency scenarios, including severe weather, system failure, equipment malfunctions, public health incidents, and security incidents.
In early September, HKIA confirmed that it is "on track" to have all three runways operational by the end of this year as planned.
Airport Authority Hong Kong also announced then that the flight check of the reconfigured Centre Runway at HKIA was successfully completed recently marking a key milestone of readiness for the three-runway operation.
The 3RS will provide capacity for HKIA to meet the long-term air traffic demand of 120 million passengers and 10 million tonnes of cargo forecast for 2035, further consolidating HKIA's position as the leading aviation hub in the region.