Hong Kong Airport Authority (AA) has announced that it is extending for three more months the relief measures it earlier extended to the airport community in view of the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The waiver or reduction of various fees for the aviation industry announced in October this year will continue from January to March 2021,"  the Airport Authority said in a statement.

The continuing relief measures include full waiver of parking charge for idle passenger aircraft and airbridge fees; reduction of passenger aircraft landing charges; fees reduction related to ramp handling, maintenance and airside vehicles; as well as rental reduction for terminal tenants covering lounges and offices; fees waiver for terminal licencees including ancillary passenger services, commercial services counters and cross-border transport operators.

It also covers concessions on franchise fees for aviation support services such as into-plane fuelling.

The Airport Authority said full waiver on fees in relation to aircraft maintenance charges and fixed charges for inflight catering services will continue until the end of March, among others.

This is already the fifth extension implemented by the Hong Kong Airport Authority after launching the first two rounds of relief measures in September 2019 and February 2020 respectively.

The measures in the past two rounds include rental concessions, reduction or waiver of fees, among others, providing support to various business partners such as airlines, ramp handlers, retail tenants, restaurants and franchisees.

AA said it continue to closely monitor the operating environment and provide necessary assistance to the airport community during these challenging times.