How the airport kept the skies open despite a super‑typhoon
When Super Typhoon Ragasa barreled into Hong Kong on September 23, most of us were hunkering down at home, but the Hong Kong International Airport was busy pulling off a logistical feat. Roughly 600 scheduled flights were due that day, and rather than grounding everything, the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) rolled out a full‑scale emergency playbook.
First, every passenger spotted in the terminal’s restricted zones was shepherded out safely—some boarded departing planes, others simply left the building by foot or shuttle. The Airport Emergency Centre acted as the command hub, coordinating with the Civil Aviation Department, airline operators and on‑site service teams. Their secret weapon was the Flight Rescheduling Control System, a digital tool that lets airlines shuffle timetables in real time once the weather eases.
Safety‑first measures were rolled out in fast‑forward mode:
- Airbridges were locked down and braced against gale‑force winds.
- Drainage channels across runways and service roads received extra sandbags and pumps.
- All open‑air work sites were secured to prevent loose equipment from becoming projectiles.
- Backup power generators were tested and kept on standby for critical lighting and communications.
The result? All scheduled passenger flights lifted off or landed without a single major incident, a win for travelers and airlines alike. Forecast models, however, warned that September 24 would be a slower day, with only a handful of cargo flights likely to operate as the storm lingered.
New Coach Hall debuts amid the storm – a bold move for regional connectivity
Just when you thought the day couldn’t get any more hectic, the airport unveiled its brand‑new Coach Hall in the same hour the typhoon made landfall. Part of the first phase of the expanded Terminal 2 (T2), the hall is designed to be a one‑stop hub for cross‑boundary buses linking Hong Kong to the Greater Bay Area.
Why launch a transport facility in the middle of a storm? AAHK officials say it’s a statement of resilience: “Even when nature turns hostile, our commitment to passengers and regional partners never wavers.” The Coach Hall slots neatly beside Terminal 1, offering 41 parking bays for a mix of public coaches, private shuttles and airport‑run buses. All the ticket counters that used to be scattered across various car parks are now centralized, giving travelers a cleaner, indoor waiting space.
Looking ahead, the second phase of Terminal 2 – which will add departure gates and more passenger amenities – is slated for early 2026. Until then, the Coach Hall stands as a tangible sign that the airport isn’t just surviving the weather; it’s pushing forward with infrastructure that will make the whole region more accessible.
In short, while Super Typhoon Ragasa tried to shut down Hong Kong’s gateway to the world, the airport proved it could juggle emergency response, keep every scheduled flight on track, and still cut the ribbon on a major new facility. It’s a textbook case of operational excellence under pressure, and a reminder that modern airports are as much about agility as they are about runways.