Zhuhai - Hong Kong Airport Joint Venture Celebrates First Anniversary
Airport Authority Hong Kong | Nov. 23, 2007
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On November 23, 2007, Hong Kong-Zhuhai Airport Management Co. Ltd. (HKZAM), the joint venture between the Zhuhai Municipal People's Government and Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) that manages Zhuhai Airport, celebrated its first anniversary with a ceremony officiated by Central and Southern Regional Administration of Civil Aviation of China Deputy Director-General Xu Qiuju; Zhuhai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China Secretary Deng Weilong; Airport Authority Hong Kong Chairman Dr Victor Fung and Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hui; and HKZAM Chairman Raymond Lai and General Manager Vivian Cheung.
HKZAM has managed Zhuhai Airport (ZHA) since October 1, 2006. In the joint venture's first year, air traffic at ZHA reached record levels, a series of enhancement projects were completed, in-town check-in lounges opened, new airlines began serving the airport, and Hong Kong and international shops and restaurants opened at ZHA.
Passenger throughput, cargo volumes and aircraft movements surged during the 12 months ended September 30, 2007. For the first time, annual passenger volumes exceeded 1 million, a year-on-year increase of 36%. Cargo throughput and air traffic movements reached 10,683 tonnes and 9,289, respectively, up 31% and 26%.
Both ZHA's network and flight frequencies expanded during the year. At the end of 2006, Spring Airlines began offering a daily round-trip service to Shanghai. In March 2007, Air China started operating a daily service to Beijing. Over the last year, the number of airlines operating at ZHA increased from four to six and the number of destinations grew from 18 to 24.
During the year, ZHA invested 22.5 million yuan in airport enhancements, including new X-ray machines and customer service counters, renovations to the terminal building, and improvements to the navigation light, water drainage and fire service systems in the airfield.
In May and June 2007, ZHA opened its first in-town check-in lounges. Passengers can check luggage and obtain a boarding pass at the lounges, which are located in downtown Zhuhai and Zhongshan.
To enhance the passenger experience, more than a dozen new shops and restaurants opened at ZHA, including several Hong Kong and international brands. Three outlets - Cafe de Coral, Circle K and The Plaza - held opening ceremonies on November 23, 2007.
To mark the joint venture's first anniversary, the Director-General of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), Yang Yuanyuan, sent a handwritten letter to HKZAM. He wrote, "The cooperation, whose future is sound and promising, is like an airbridge that is built upon China's air services liberalisation and the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between the Mainland and Hong Kong." Director-General Yang also noted that both ZHA and its staff have undergone many positive changes. He thanked the staff for their efforts and encouraged ZHA to continue its good work and contribution to China's civil airport management.
Deng Weilong, Secretary of Zhuhai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, said, "The joint venture is another example of win-win collaboration between Hong Kong and Zhuhai. Over the last year, we have leveraged each other's expertise, skills and capital. With its good performance and increasing passenger and cargo volumes, ZHA will continue to reach new heights." He added, "With the support and guidance of the Guangdong Provincial Government and related departments as well as the commitment of the joint venture, we strongly believe that ZHA will continue to grow and achieve encouraging results."
Airport Authority Hong Kong Chairman Dr Victor Fung was pleased with the joint venture's better-than-expected performance. He said, "By sharing resources and capitalizing on our respective strengths, the joint venture allows Hong Kong International Airport and ZHA to achieve meaningful synergies. It also enhances the competitiveness of the two airports, creating a long-term, strategic partnership. Both airports will continue to play a vital role in the aviation and economic development of the western Pearl River Delta."
HKZAM Chairman Raymond Lai said, "While ZHA continues to add new routes and flight frequencies, we will also work to attract domestic and foreign aviation-related business to operate from ZHA. We expect a cross-boundary ferry service between ZHA and Hong Kong International Airport to begin in 2008. The new service will help increase passenger and cargo flows for both airports. Our goal for ZHA is to handle over 2 million passengers and 50,000 tonnes of cargo by 2011."
Mr Lai thanked the Central Government and its departments for providing sea and land transport connections to the airport, among other things. He added that ZHA's good performance was due to the dedication of the airport's staff and business partners.
Photograph 1: Zhuhai Airport - Current ZHA.
Photograph 2: AAHK Chairman Dr Victor Fung says the joint venture enhances the competitiveness of the two airports, creating a long-term, strategic partnership.