On 11th September, the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) kicked off Asia Pacific's first-ever Airport Cities World Conference and Exhibition at the AsiaWorld-Expo. A platform for high-level executives to exchange views and share strategies on the development of airport cities, the two-day conference would also discuss how airport cities contribute to the regional and global economies.

Representing 23 countries and cities, about 280 senior executives and top management from 40 airports worldwide, a number of airlines, government bodies and aviation-related organisations attend the conference.

The international conference also sees the largest-ever participation of top officials, CEOs and senior management of the aviation industry from the Chinese Mainland. The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China and 17 major Chinese Mainland airports, including Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport are represented at the conference.

"We are honoured to host another prestigious global aviation conference this year which reinforces Hong Kong's status as an international and regional transport hub as well as the gateway of the Chinese Mainland," said Airport Authority Hong Kong's Chief Executive Officer Dr David J Pang. In March this year, HKIA played host to the Airports Council International (ACI)'s regional conference, which was well attended by airport management, industry experts and senior executives from many countries of the world.

Dr Pang added that leading airports in the world have been undergoing rapid and fundamental changes over the past decade and are no longer simply an infrastructure for passengers to embark and disembark. "Major airports are evolving from a city's airport to an airport city, becoming the focal point of people, cargo, capital and information flows. An airport city will be an increasingly important economic growth engine for local and regional development.

"Six years ago, we embarked on our journey to build our own airport city, or SkyCity as we call it. A destination in its own right, SkyCity's diversified and customer-friendly facilities and benchmark-setting services will provide a unique, pleasant and memorable experience for all passengers and other airport users," said Dr Pang.

HKIA's SkyCity, consisting of a series of landmark projects, is strategically located on the east side of the existing passenger terminal. While the HKIA Tower is scheduled to open in 2006, Terminal 2 - a new passenger terminal housing the shopping, dining and entertainment mecca, SkyPlaza - will have its soft opening this year. In addition, SkyCity Nine Eagles Golf Course and the Airport World Trade Centre are targeted to open next year, and the permanent SkyPier cross-boundary ferry terminal and the second airport hotel, The Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel, are scheduled to open in 2008. AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong's largest exhibition venue, has already started its operation last year.

The Airport Cities World Conference and Exhibition formerly took place in Dubai, Pittsburgh, Orlando and Rome.

Photograph 1: At the opening speech of the Airport Cities World Conference & Exhibition, Airport Authority Hong Kong's CEO Dr David J Pang says airport city development is an irresistible global trend for the 21st century world.

Photograph 2: Airport Authority Hong Kong's Commercial Director Mr Hans Bakker explains to the press what will HKIA's SkyCity look like when its phase 1 development completes in 2008.

Photograph 3: Guests attending the Airport Cities World Conference & Exhibition listen attentively to the explanation about SkyCity development at the HKIA booth.

Photograph 4: Mr Diao Yonghai, Deputy Director General Airport Development, General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, says that Chinese Mainland will invest significantly for the construction of new airports during the 11th Five Year Plan (2006-2010).