Kai Tak airport - wikipedia Kai Tak airport `` Kai Tak '' redirects here. For other uses, see Kai Tak ( disambiguation ). Kai Tak Airport 啟 德 機場 Kai Tak Airport in 1998, the morning after its closure IATA : HKG ICAO : VHHH Summary Airport type Public, Defunct Operator Civil Aviation Department Location Hong Kong Opened 1925 Closed 1998 Hub for Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Hong Kong Airways, Cathay Pacific Cargo Elevation AMSL 9 m / 30 ft Coordinates 22 ° 19 ′ 43 '' N 114 ° 11 ′ 39 '' E ﻿ / ﻿ 22.32861 ° N 114.19417 ° E ﻿ / 22.32861 ; 114.19417 Coordinates : 22 ° 19 ′ 43 '' N 114 ° 11 ′ 39 '' E ﻿ / ﻿ 22.32861 ° N 114.19417 ° E ﻿ / 22.32861 ; 114.19417 Map Kai Tak Airport Location of Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong Runways Direction Length Surface m ft 13 / 31 3,390 11,122 Asphalt ( Closed ) Kai Tak Airport Traditional Chinese 啟 德 機場 Simplified Chinese 启 德 机场 Cantonese Yale Káidāk Gēichèuhng Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Qĭdé Jīchǎng Wade -- Giles Ch'i - te chi - ch'ang Yue : Cantonese Yale Romanization Káidāk Gēichèuhng Jyutping Kai2dak1 Gei1coeng4 Kai Tak Airport ( IATA : HKG, ICAO : VHHH ) was the international airport of Hong Kong from 1925 until 1998. It was officially known as Hong Kong International Airport from 1954 to 6 July 1998, when it was closed and replaced by the new Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok, 30 kilometres ( 19 mi ) to the west. It is often known as Hong Kong International Airport, Kai Tak, or simply Kai Tak, to distinguish it from its successor which is often referred to as Chek Lap Kok Airport. With numerous skyscrapers and mountains located to the north and its only runway jutting out into Victoria Harbour, landings at the airport were dramatic to experience and technically demanding for pilots. The History Channel programme Most Extreme Airports ranked it as the 6th most dangerous airport in the world. The airport was home to Hong Kong 's international carrier Cathay Pacific, as well as regional carrier Dragonair, freight airline Air Hong Kong and Hong Kong Airways. The airport was also home to the former RAF Kai Tak. Contents 1 Geographic environment 2 History 2.1 1920s to 1930s 2.2 World War II 2.3 1945 to 1970s 2.4 Overcrowding in the 1980s and 1990s 2.5 Closure and legacy of Kai Tak Airport 3 Former airlines and destinations 3.1 Passenger 4 Operations 4.1 Terminals and facilities 4.2 Airlines based at Kai Tak 4.3 Runway 13 approach 4.4 Runway 13 departure 4.5 Runway 31 approach 4.6 Runway 31 departure 5 Incidents and accidents 6 Redevelopment 6.1 2002 blueprint 6.2 Kai Tak Planning Review 6.2. 1 June 2006 blueprint 6.2. 2 October 2006 blueprint 6.3 2011 onwards 7 See also 8 References 9 External links Geographic environment The airport was surrounded by high - rise buildings. The airport car park is at the centre, and offices are on the right of the photograph. Kai Tak was located on the west side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The area is surrounded by rugged mountains. Less than 4 km ( 2.5 mi ) to the north and northeast of the former runway 13 threshold is a range of hills reaching an elevation of 2,000 ft ( 610 m ). To the east of the former 31 threshold, the hills are less than 3 km ( 1.9 mi ) away. Immediately to the south of the airport is Victoria Harbour, and farther south is Hong Kong Island with hills up to 2,100 ft ( 640 m ). When Kai Tak closed, there was only one runway in use, numbered 13 / 31 and oriented southeast / northwest ( 134 / 314 degrees true, 136 / 316 degrees magnetic ). The runway was made by reclaiming land from the harbour and was extended several times after its initial construction. The runway was 3,390 m ( 11,120 ft ) long when the airport closed. At the northern end of the runway, buildings rose up to six storeys just across a major multi-lane arterial road. The other three sides of the runway were surrounded by Victoria Harbour. The low - altitude turning manoeuvre before the shortened final approach was so spectacular that passengers could spot television sets in the apartments : ``... as the plane banked sharply to the right for landing... the people watching television in the nearby apartments seemed an unsettling arms length away. '' History RAF Short Sunderlands and a Douglas Dakota at Kai Tak Airport, c. 1946 1920s to 1930s The story of Kai Tak started in 1912 when two businessmen Ho Kai and Au Tak formed the Kai Tak Investment Company to reclaim land in Kowloon for development. The land was acquired by the government for use as an airfield after the business plan failed. In 1924, Harry Abbott opened The Abbott School of Aviation on that piece of land. Soon, it became a small grass strip runway airport for the RAF and several flying clubs which, over time, grew to include the Hong Kong Flying Club, the Far East Flying Training School, and the Aero Club of Hong Kong, which exist today as an amalgamation known as the Hong Kong Aviation Club. In 1928, a concrete slipway was built for seaplanes that used the adjoining Kowloon Bay. The first control tower and hangar at Kai Tak were built in 1935. In 1936, the first domestic airline in Hong Kong was established. World war II Aerial view of the airport in 1971, three years before the 1974 extension. Hong Kong fell into the hands of the Japanese in 1941 during World War II. In 1942, the Japanese army expanded Kai Tak, using many Allied prisoner - of - war ( POW ) labourers, building two concrete runways, 13 / 31 and 07 / 25. Numerous POW diary entries exist recalling the gruelling work and long hours working on building Kai Tak. During the process, the historic wall of the Kowloon Walled City and the 45 - metre ( 148 ft ) tall Sung Wong Toi, a memorial for the last Song dynasty emperor, were destroyed for materials. A 2001 Environmental Study recommended that a new memorial be erected for the Sung Wong Toi rock and other remnants of the Kowloon area before Kai Tak. 1945 to 1970s From September 1945 to August 1946, the airport was a Royal Navy shore base, `` HMS Nabcatcher '', the name previously attached to a Mobile Naval Air Base for the Fleet Air Arm. On 1 April 1947, a Royal Naval Air Station, HMS Flycatcher, was commissioned there. A plan to modify Kai Tak into a modern airport was released in 1954. By 1957, runway 13 / 31 had been extended to 1,664 metres ( 5,459 ft ), while runway 7 / 25 remained 1,450 metres ( 4,760 ft ) long. Bristol Britannia 102s took over BOAC 's London - Tokyo flights in summer 1957 and were probably the largest airliners at the time to use the old airport. In 1958, the new NW / SE 2,550 - metre ( 8,350 ft ) long runway extending into Kowloon Bay was completed by land reclamation. The passenger terminal was completed in 1962. The runway was extended in the mid-1970s to 3,390 metres ( 11,130 ft ). This extension was completed in June 1974, but the full length of the runway was not put into use until 31 December 1975, as construction of the new Airport Tunnel had kept the northwestern end of the runway closed. In 1955 Kai Tak Airport featured in the film The Night My Number Came Up. An Instrument Guidance System ( IGS ) was installed in 1974 to aid landing on runway 13. Use of the airport under adverse conditions was greatly increased. Overcrowding in the 1980s and 1990s The growth of Hong Kong also put a strain on the airport 's capacity. Its usage was close to, and for some time exceeded, the designed capacity. The airport was designed to handle 24 million passengers per year, but in 1996, Kai Tak handled 29.5 million passengers, plus 1.56 million tonnes of freight, making it the third busiest airport in the world in terms of international passenger traffic, and busiest in terms of international cargo throughput. Moreover, clearance requirements for aircraft takeoffs and landings made it necessary to limit the height of buildings that could be built in Kowloon. While Kai Tak was initially located far away from residential areas, the expansion of both residential areas and the airport resulted in Kai Tak being close to residential areas. This caused serious noise pollution for nearby residents and put height restrictions, which were removed after Kai Tak closed. A night curfew from midnight to about 6 : 30 in the early morning also hindered operations. As a result, in the late 1980s, the Hong Kong Government began searching for alternative locations for a new airport in Hong Kong to replace the aging airport. After deliberating on a number of locations, including the south side of Hong Kong Island, the government decided to build the airport on the island of Chek Lap Kok off Lantau Island. A huge number of resources were mobilised to build this new airport, part of the ten programmes in Hong Kong 's Airport Core Programme. The Regal Meridien Hongkong Airport Hotel, linked to the passenger terminal by a footbridge spanning Prince Edward Road, opened on 19 July 1982. This was Hong Kong 's first airport hotel, and comprised 380 rooms including 47 suites. As of 2018 the hotel still exists, but the footbridge has been demolished. It is one of the few remaining buildings related to Kai Tak Airport. Closure and legacy of Kai Tak airport The new airport officially opened on 6 July 1998. All essential airport supplies and vehicles that were left in the old airport for operation ( some of the non-essential ones had already been transported to the new airport ) were transported to Chek Lap Kok in one early morning with a single massive move. On 6 July 1998 at 01 : 28, after the last aircraft departed for Chek Lap Kok, Kai Tak was finally retired as an airport. The final flights were : The last arrival : Dragonair KA841 from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport ( Airbus A320 ) landed runway 13 at 23 : 38. The last scheduled commercial flight : Cathay Pacific CX251 to Heathrow Airport ( Boeing 747 - 400 ) took off from runway 13 at 00 : 02. The last departure : Cathay Pacific CX3340 ferry flight to the new Hong Kong International Airport ( Airbus A340 - 300 ) took off from runway 13 at 01 : 05. A small ceremony celebrating the end of the airport was held inside the control tower after the last flight took off. Richard Siegel, then - director of civil aviation, gave a brief speech ending with the words `` Goodbye Kai Tak, and thank you '', before dimming the lights briefly and then turning them off. After the last plane, a Cathay Pacific A340 - 300, took off from Kai Tak International Airport to the new Hong Kong International Airport at 01 : 28 HKT, Kai Tak was closed, transferring its ICAO and IATA airport codes to the replacement airport at Chek Lap Kok. Government reports later revealed that Chek Lap Kok airport was not completely ready to be opened to the public despite trial runs held. Water supply and sewers were not installed completely. Telephones were installed, but the lines were not connected. The baggage system did not undergo extensive troubleshooting and passenger baggage as well as cargo, much of which was perishable, were lost. The government decided to temporarily reactivate Kai Tak 's cargo terminal to minimise the damage caused by a software bug in the new airport 's cargo handling system. The passenger terminal later housed government offices, automobile dealerships and showrooms, a go - kart racecourse, a bowling alley, a snooker hall, a golf range and other recreational facilities. Between December 2003 and January 2004, the passenger terminal was demolished. Many aviation enthusiasts were upset at the demise of Kai Tak because of the unique runway 13 approach. As private aviation was no longer allowed at Chek Lap Kok ( having moved to Sek Kong Airfield ), some enthusiasts had lobbied to keep about 1 km ( 0.62 mi ) of the Kai Tak runway for general aviation, but the suggestion was rejected as the Government had planned to build a new cruise terminal at Kai Tak. The name Kai Tak is one of the names submitted by Hong Kong used in the lists of tropical cyclone names in the northwest Pacific Ocean and has been used four times as of 2017. Former airlines and destinations Passenger Airlines Destinations Aeroflot Moscow -- Sheremetyevo Air Canada Vancouver Air China Beijing, Dalian, Shenyang, Taiyuan, Tianjin Air France Bangkok, Manila, Mumbai, Paris -- Charles de Gaulle Air India Bangkok, Osaka -- Kansai, Tokyo -- Narita Air Mauritius Air New Zealand Auckland Air Niugini Manila, Port Moresby All Nippon Airways Tokyo -- Narita Alitalia Bangkok, Rome -- Fiumicino, Tokyo -- Narita Ansett Australia Sydney Asiana Airlines Seoul British Asia Airways Taipei -- Chiang Kai Shek British Airways Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Bangkok, Colombo, London -- Heathrow, Manila, Mumbai, Tokyo -- Narita British Caledonian BOAC Bangkok, Darwin, Delhi, Iwakuni, Karachi, Kolkata, Manila, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo CAAC Airlines Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Kunming, Shanghai, Tianjin Canadian Airlines Bangkok, Vancouver Canadian Pacific Air Lines Cathay Pacific Amsterdam, Anchorage, Auckland, Bahrain, Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Cairns, Cebu, Denpasar, Frankfurt, Fukuoka, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Johannesburg -- International, Kuala Lumpur, London -- Heathrow, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Nagoya, Osaka -- Kansai, Paris -- Charles de Gaulle, Penang, Perth, Port Moresby, Rome, Sapporo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei -- Taoyuan, Tokyo -- Narita, Vancouver, Zurich China Airlines Bangkok, Jakarta, Kaohsiung, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Taipei China Eastern Airlines Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Shanghai China Northern Airlines China Northwest Airlines China Southern Airlines Beijing, Guangzhou, Kunming, Shantou, Xiamen, Zhengzhou China Southwest Airlines Continental Micronesia Guam, Saipan Delta Air Lines Los Angeles Dragonair Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu, Dalian, Dhaka, Guilin, Haikou, Hangzhou, Hiroshima, Kaohsiung, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Kunming, Nanjing, Ningbo, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Qingdao, Sendai, Shanghai, Tianjin, Ziamen, Xian El Al Tel Aviv via Tashkent Emirates Bangkok, Dubai, Manila EVA Air Taipei -- Taoyuan Grand Air Manila, Subic Bay Garuda Indonesia Jakarta Gulf Air Abu Dhabi, Manama Hong Kong Airways Imperial Airways Fort Bayard, Penang Imperial Japanese Airways Guangzhou, Taipei Japan Airlines Bangkok, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Nagoya, Okinawa, Osaka -- Kansai, Singapore, Tokyo -- Narita Japan Asia Airways Kaohsiung, Taipei Kampuchea Airlines KLM Amsterdam Korean Air Busan, Seoul, Taipei Lauda Air Lufthansa Bangkok, Frankfurt, Karachi, Tokyo -- Narita Malaysia Airlines Kota Kinbalu, Kuala Lumpur -- International, Penang, Taipei Malaysia -- Singapore Airlines Mandarin Airlines Martinair Nauru Airlines Nepal Airlines Northwest Airlines Minneapolis / St. Paul, Seattle / Tacoma, Tokyo -- Narita Pan American World Airways Bangkok, San Francisco, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo -- Narita Philippine Airlines Cebu, Manila Pakistan International Airlines Karachi Qantas Bangkok, Brisbane, Manila, Melbourne, Sydney Qatar Airways Doha Royal Air Cambodge Royal Brunei Airlines Bandar Seri Begawan Scandinavian Airlines Stockholm -- Arlanda Shanghai Airlines Singapore Airlines Bangkok, Honolulu, Singapore, Taipei South African Airways Bangkok, Johannesburg -- International Swissair Bangkok, Karachi, Mumbai, Zürich Transaero Moscow - Domodedovo, Saint Petersburg Thai Airways Bangkok, Seoul, Taipei -- Chiang Kai Shek United Airlines Chicago -- O'Hare, Delhi, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle / Tacoma, Singapore, Tokyo -- Narita Varig Rio de Janeiro -- Galeão, São Paulo -- Guarulhos, Johannesburg -- International Vietnam Airlines Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City Virgin Atlantic London -- Heathrow XiamenAir Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Wuyishan, Xiamen Operations A Cathay Pacific Boeing 747 landing at Kai Tak Airport runway 13 Airport forecourt Terminals and facilities The Kai Tak airport consisted of a linear passenger terminal building with a car park attached at the rear. There were eight boarding gates attached to the terminal building. A freight terminal was located on the south side of the east apron and diagonally from the passenger terminal building. Due to the limited space, the fuel tank farm was located between the passenger terminal and HAECO maintenance facilities ( hangar ). Airlines based at Kai Tak Northwest Cargo 747 landing. Several airlines were based at Kai Tak : Cathay Pacific, which operated a mixed Airbus, Boeing and some Lockheed all - widebody fleet of one hundred aircraft, providing scheduled services to the rest of Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, Europe, South Africa and North America Dragonair Air Hong Kong Limited Hong Kong Airways British Airways Other tenants included : Hong Kong Aviation Club Government Flying Service DFS Kai Tak Market Häagen Dazs Tin Tin Airport Restaurant Runway 13 approach Layout of Kai Tak Airport prior to its 1998 closure An Air France Boeing 747 passing above the very crowded Kowloon City during its approach and landing. Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 - 200 ( B - HNC ) on final approach to Kai Tak runway 13, overflying Kowloon at low altitude. `` Checkerboard Hill '', which was a major navigational aid for the Runway 13 approach, as seen from Kowloon Tsai Park. The landing approach using runway 13 at Kai Tak was world - famous. To land on runway 13, an aircraft first took a descent heading northeast. The aircraft would pass over the crowded Victoria Harbour, and then the very densely populated areas of Western Kowloon. This leg of the approach was guided by an Instrument Guidance System, a modified Instrument landing system after 1974. Upon reaching a small hill above Kowloon Tsai Park marked with a large `` aviation orange '' and white checkerboard, used as a visual reference point on the final approach ( in addition to the middle marker on the Instrument Guidance System ), the pilot needed to make a 47 ° visual right turn to line up with the runway and complete the final leg. The aircraft would be just 2 nautical miles ( 3.7 km ) from touchdown, at a height of less than 1,000 feet ( 300 m ) when the turn was made. Typically the plane would enter the final right turn at a height of about 650 feet ( 200 m ) and exit it at a height of 140 feet ( 43 m ) to line up with the runway. This demanding manoeuvre became known in the aviation community as the `` Hong Kong Turn '' or the `` Checkerboard Turn ''. For many airline passengers on planes approaching and landing on Runway 13 at Kai Tak Airport, it became referred to as the `` Kai Tak Heart Attack ''. Landing the runway 13 approach was already difficult with normal crosswinds since even if the wind direction was constant, it was changing relative to the aircraft during the 47 ° visual right turn. The landing would become even more challenging when crosswinds from the northeast were strong and gusty during typhoons. The mountain range northeast of the airport also makes wind vary greatly in both speed and direction. Watching large aircraft banking at low altitudes and taking big crab angles during their final approaches was popular for plane spotters. Despite the difficulty, the runway 13 approach was used most of the time due to the prevailing wind direction in Hong Kong. Due to the turn in final approach, ILS was not available for runway 13 and landings had to follow a visual approach. This made the approach unusable in low visibility conditions. Runway 13 departure Runway 13 was the preferred departure runway for heavy aircraft due to the clear departure path, opposite that of the runway 31 departure. Heavy aircraft on departure using runway 13 would commonly be observed using nearly the entire length of the runway, particularly during summer days due to the air temperature. Runway 31 approach Landings on runway 31 were just like those on other normal runways where ILS landing was possible. Since the taxiway next to the runway would have been occupied by aircraft taxiing for takeoff, landing traffic could only exit the runway ( to the right ), at the very end. The path towards the runway passed within 300 metres to the north of Heng Fa Chuen on Hong Kong Island. Runway 31 departure When lined up for takeoff on runway 31, a range of hills including 1,500 feet ( 460 m ) Beacon Hill would be right in front of the aircraft. The aircraft had to make a sharp 65 - degree left turn soon after takeoff to avoid the hills ( i.e. the reverse of a Runway 13 landing ). If a runway change occurred due to wind change from runway 13 departures to runway 31 departures, planes that were loaded to maximum payload for runway 13 departures had to return to the terminal to offload some goods to provide enough climbing clearance over buildings during a runway 31 departure. Incidents and accidents China Airlines Flight 605 crashed into Victoria Harbour after it failed to stop on the runway during a typhoon Many planes crashed at Kai Tak due to poor weather and hard approach On 25 January 1947, a Philippine Air Lines DC - 3 aircraft crashed into Mount Parker, killing four crew members. On 21 December 1948, a Civil Air Transport Douglas DC - 4 struck Basalt Island after a descent through clouds. 33 were killed. On 24 February 1949, a Cathay Pacific Douglas DC - 3 crashed into a hillside near Braemar Reservoir after aborting an approach in poor visibility and attempting to go around. All 23 on board were killed. On 11 March 1951, a Pacific Overseas Airlines Douglas DC - 4 crashed after takeoff into the hills between Mount Butler and Mount Parker on Hong Kong Island. The captain of the aircraft allegedly failed to execute the turn left operation after departure. 23 were killed. On 9 April 1951, a Siamese Airways Douglas DC - 3 lost control on its turn while attempting a night - time visual approach. The captain allegedly allowed the aircraft to lose flying speed while attempting to turn quickly. 16 were killed. On 19 April 1961, a US military Douglas DC - 3 ( C - 47 Skytrain ) bound for Formosa crashed into Mount Parker after takeoff. Of the 16 on board, 15 were killed. On 24 August 1965, a United States Marine Corps C - 130 Hercules crashed shortly after takeoff from runway 13, killing 59 of the 71 people on board. This was the deadliest accident at Kai Tak. On 30 June 1967, a Thai Airways International Sud Aviation SE - 210 Caravelle III crashed into Victoria Harbour while trying to land during a torrential rainstorm. A typhoon was some 150 miles ( 240 km ) NW of Hong Kong, but the colony was not closed down in preparation of the typhoon. The co-pilot, who was flying the aircraft, unable to even see the runway due to the density of the rain, allegedly made an abrupt heading change, causing the aircraft to enter into a high rate of descent and crash into harbour waters to the right of the runway. The starboard wing snapped off on impact, and the aircraft rolled onto its starboard side, halving the number of escape routes. 24 were killed, but only 23 bodies were recovered at the scene. The final body was recovered after it was seen floating in the harbour six weeks later. On 2 September 1977, a Transmeridian Air Cargo Canadair CL - 44 lost control and crashed into the Tathong Channel on fire shortly after takeoff. The no. 4 engine was said to have failed, causing an internal fire in the engine and the aircraft fuel system that eventually resulted in a massive external fire. 4 were killed. On 9 March 1978, a China Airlines Boeing 737 - 200 was hijacked. The hijacker ( the flight engineer of the flight ) demanded to be taken to China. The hijack lasted less than a day, and the hijacker was killed. On 18 October 1983, a Lufthansa Boeing 747 freighter abandoned takeoff after engine no. 2 malfunctioned, probably at speed exceeding V ( the takeoff / abort decision point ). The aircraft overran the runway onto soft ground and sustained severe damage. 3 were injured. On 31 August 1988, the right outboard flap of a CAAC Hawker Siddeley Trident operating Flight 301 hit approach lights of runway 31 while landing under rain and fog. The right main landing gear then struck a lip and collapsed, causing the aircraft to run off the runway and slip into the harbour. 7 were killed. On 4 November 1993, a China Airlines Boeing 747 - 400, operating Flight 605, overran the runway while landing during a typhoon. The wind was gusting to gale force at the time. Despite the plane 's unstable approach, the captain did not go around. It touched down more than 2 / 3 down the runway and was unable to stop before the runway ran out. Although the aircraft ended up submerged beyond the end of the runway, there were only 23 minor injuries amongst the 396 passengers and crew. On 23 September 1994, a Heavylift Cargo Airlines Lockheed L - 100 - 30 Hercules lost control shortly after takeoff from runway 13. The pitch control system of one of its propellers was said to have failed. 6 were killed. Redevelopment Aerial view Kai Tak Development site in 2017 Kai Ching Estate is the first housing estate to be built on the old Kai Tak Airport site. It is located on the north eastern side of the site, where the maintenance area was located Kai Tak Runway Park with its former runway number : 13 Main article : Kai Tak Development 2002 blueprint In October 1998, the Government drafted a plan for the Kai Tak Airport site, involving the reclamation of 219 hectares ( 540 acres ) of land. After receiving many objections, the Government scaled down the reclamation to 166 hectares ( 410 acres ) in June 1999. The Territorial Development Department commenced a new study on the development of the area in November 1999, entitled `` Feasibility Studies on the Revised Southeast Kowloon Development Plan '', and a new public consultation exercise was conducted in May 2000, resulting in the land reclamation being further scaled down to 133 hectares ( 330 acres ). The new plans based on the feasibility studies were passed by the chief executive in July 2002. There were plans for the site of Kai Tak to be used for housing development, which was once projected to house around 240,000 -- 340,000 residents. Due to calls from the public to protect the harbour and participate more deeply in future town planning, the scale and plan of the project were yet to be decided. There were also plans for a railway station and maintenance centre in the proposed plan for the Sha Tin to Central Link. There were also proposals to dredge the runway to form several islands for housing, to build a terminal capable of accommodating cruise ships the size of the Queen Mary 2, and more recently, to house the Hong Kong Sports Institute, as well as several stadiums, in the case that the institute was forced to move so that the equestrian events of the 2008 Summer Olympics could be held at its present site in Sha Tin. On 9 January 2004 the Court of Final Appeal ruled that no reclamation plan for Victoria Harbour could be introduced unless it passed an `` overriding public interest '' test. Subsequently, the Government abandoned these plans. Kai Tak Planning review The Government set up a `` Kai Tak Planning Review '' in July 2004 for further public consultation. A number of plans were presented. June 2006 blueprint A new plan for the redevelopment of Kai Tak was issued by the government in June 2006. Under these proposals, hotels would be scattered throughout the 328 - hectare ( 810 - acre ) site, and flats aimed at housing 86,000 new residents were proposed. Other features of the plan included two cruise terminals and a large stadium. October 2006 blueprint The Planning Department unveiled a major reworking of its plans for the old Kai Tak airport site on 17 October 2006, containing `` a basket of small measures designed to answer a bevy of concerns raised by the public ''. The revised blueprint will also extend several `` green corridors '' from the main central park into the surrounding neighbourhoods of Kowloon City, Kowloon Bay and Ma Tau Kok. The following features are proposed in the revised plan : two cruise terminals, with a third terminal to be added if the need arises a luxury hotel complex near the cruise terminals -- the complex would sit about seven stories high, with hotel rooms atop commercial or tourist - related spaces an eight - station monorail linking the tourist hub with Kwun Tong a large stadium a `` central park '' to provide green space a 200 - metre ( 660 ft ) high public `` viewing tower '' near the tip of the runway a new bridge, likely to involve further reclamation of Victoria Harbour The following are major changes : hotel spaces are to be centralised near the end of the runway, and will face into the harbour towards Central a third cruise terminal could be added at the foot of the hotel cluster if the need arises a second row of luxury residential spaces is to be added facing Kwun Tong, built on an elevated terrace or platform to preserve a view of the harbour The government has promised that : the total amount of housing and hotel space will remain the same as proposed in June 2006 plot ratios will be the same as before the total commercial space on the site will also remain about the same The new bridge proposed by the government, joining the planned hotel district at the end of the runway with Kwun Tong, could be a potential source of controversy. Under the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance, no harbour reclamation can take place unless the Government can demonstrate to the courts an `` overriding public need ''. The new Kai Tak blueprint was presented to the Legislative Council on 24 October 2006 after review by the Town Planning Board. Panorama of the former Kai Tak Airport Site ( 2010 ) 2011 onwards In 2011, with most of the former Kai Tak area still abandoned, ideas were floated to develop the area for commercial property, citing shortages of office space and rising property costs. In June 2013, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal was opened on the tip of the former runway. Two public housing estates opened on the northeast area of the site in 2013, providing over 13,000 new rental flats. As of 2018, the public estates have been joined by some private residential developments, now nearing completion. Two new Mass Transit Railway ( MTR ) stations, Kai Tak and Sung Wong Toi, are scheduled to open in 2019 on the former airport lands. See also Hong Kong portal Aviation portal Kai Tak Stadium List of buildings and structures in Hong Kong List of defunct international airports Lung Tsun Stone Bridge References ^ Jump up to : `` Kai Tak Airport 1925 -- 1998 ''. Civil Aviation Department, Government of Hong Kong. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25. Jump up ^ Photo of Kai Tak Airport, shown the official name of the airport Archived 18 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Wong, Hiufu ( 12 June 2013 ). `` Breathtaking photos of Hong Kong airport glory days ''. CNN. Retrieved 12 June 2013. Jump up ^ Most Extreme Airports ; The History Channel ; 26 August 2010 Jump up ^ Randy Harris ( 1999 ). The Year 2017 : A Look at What 's Coming in Asia. iUniverse. p. 25. ISBN 978 - 1 - 58348 - 137 - 0. Jump up ^ Kai Tak Airport History Archived 31 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine., Hong Kong ATC history, Munsang College history Archived 13 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` Excerpt on Sir Kai Ho Kai ''. Blogthetalk.com. 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Retrieved 2007 - 04 - 18. ^ Jump up to : `` Airlines and Aircraft Serving Hong Kong Effective October 1, 1996 ''. www.departedflights.com. Retrieved 2017 - 11 - 03. ^ Jump up to : `` Airlines and Aircraft Serving Hong Kong Effective July 1, 1983 ''. www.departedflights.com. Retrieved 2017 - 11 - 03. Jump up ^ `` BOAC timetable, 1948 ''. Retrieved 2017 - 11 - 03. Jump up ^ `` BOAC route map, 1971 ''. Retrieved 2017 - 11 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Imperial Airways timetable, 1938 ''. Retrieved 2017 - 11 - 03. Jump up ^ `` 大 日本 航空 ( 1943 ) ''. tt - museum. Retrieved 2017 - 11 - 03. Jump up ^ Sung Hin - lun : A Hundred Years of Aviation in Hong Kong. ISBN 962 - 04 - 2188 - 4 Jump up ^ Steven K. Bailey ( 2009 ). Exploring Hong Kong : A Visitor 's Guide to Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. ThingsAsian Press. p. 136. ISBN 1934159166. Jump up ^ `` PAL tragedy : Manila officials here on investigations ''. South China Morning Post. 28 January 1947. p. 7. ^ Jump up to : `` Survivor 's condition `` slightly improved '' ``. South China Morning Post. 21 April 1961. p. 1. Jump up ^ `` ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C - 54B - 5 - DO N8342C Basalt Island ''. Aviation Safety. 21 December 1948. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25. Jump up ^ `` ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C - 47A - 90 - DL VR - HDG North Point, Hong Kong ''. Aviation Safety. 24 February 1949. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Accident Database : Accident Synopsis 03111951 ''. Airdisaster.com. 11 March 1951. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Accident Database : Accident Synopsis 04091951 ''. Airdisaster.com. 9 April 1951. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Plane crashes Shaukiwan hill : Wreckage found after long and widespread search ''. South China Morning Post. 20 April 1961. p. 1. Jump up ^ `` ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed KC - 130F Hercules 149802 Hong Kong - Kai Tak International Airport ( HKG ) ''. Aviation Safety. 24 August 1965. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Accident Database : Accident Synopsis 06301967 ''. Airdisaster.com. 30 June 1967. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Four die as plane drops ' like a stone ' ''. South China Morning Post. 3 September 1977. p. 1. Jump up ^ `` Crash plane ' found ' ''. South China Morning Post. 14 September 1977. p. 1. Jump up ^ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19780310&id=zyFOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4e0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3048,3689614 Jump up ^ `` ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737 - 281 B - 1870 Hong Kong ''. Aviation Safety. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25. Jump up ^ `` ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 747 - 230F D - ABYU Hong Kong - Kai Tak International Airport ( HKG ) ''. Aviation Safety. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25. Jump up ^ `` ASN Aircraft accident Hawker Siddeley HS - 121 Trident 2E B - 2218 Hong Kong - Kai Tak International Airport ( HKG ) ''. Aviation Safety. 31 August 1988. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25. Jump up ^ `` ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 747 - 409 B - 165 Hong Kong - Kai Tak International Airport ( HKG ) ''. Aviation Safety. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25. Jump up ^ `` ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed L - 100 - 30 Hercules PK - PLV Hong Kong - Kai Tak International Airport ( HKG ) ''. Aviation Safety. Retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25. Jump up ^ Planning history of Kai Tak Archived 21 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` Judgement : Town Planning Board v Society for the Protection of the Harbour '' ( PDF ). Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 30 March 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2006. Jump up ^ `` Kai Tak planning review ''. Government of the Hong Kong SAR. Archived from the original on 1 September 2006. Retrieved 2006 - 10 - 20. Jump up ^ Cheng, Jonathan ( 18 October 2006 ). `` Kai Tak blueprint redrawn ''. The Standard. Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 28 October 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2006. Jump up ^ http://www.harbourfront.org.hk/eng/content_page/protection.html?s=1 Jump up ^ Kelvin Wong ( 1 October 2011 ). `` Abandoned airport could solve office space dilemma ''. The New Zealand Herald. Jump up ^ Wong, Hiufu ( June 14, 2013 ). `` Breathtaking photos of Hong Kong airport glory days ''. The Gateway. CNN. Retrieved 26 June 2013. Jump up ^ `` Kai Tak Cruise Terminal ''. Retrieved 26 June 2013. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kai Tak Airport. An account by a Kai Tak Air Traffic Controller -- Phil Parker Pictures from Kai Tak : Airliners.net -- Jetphotos.net Historic photographs of Kai Tak. Kai Tak webpage at Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Kai Tak Development - official site Airports in China Civil aviation in China North Alxa Left Alxa Right Arxan Baotou Bayannur Beijing Capital Beijing Nanyuan Changzhi Chengde Chifeng Datong Ejin Erenhot Handan Hohhot Holingol Hulunbuir Hailar Linfen Lüliang Manzhouli Ordos Qinhuangdao Shijiazhuang Taiyuan Tangshan Tianjin Tongliao Ulanhot Ulanqab Wuhai Xilinhot Xinzhou Yuncheng Zhalantun Zhangjiakou Northeast Anshan Baicheng Changbaishan Changchun Changhai Chaoyang Dalian Dandong Daqing Fuyuan Harbin Heihe Jiagedaqi Jiamusi Jiansanjiang Jinzhou Jixi Mohe Mudanjiang Qiqihar Shenyang Songyuan Tonghua Wudalianchi Yanji Yichun Lindu Yingkou East Anqing Changzhou Chizhou Dongying Fuyang Fuzhou Ganzhou Hangzhou Hefei Huai'an Huangshan Ji'an Jinan Jingdezhen Jining Jiujiang Lianyungang Linyi Longyan Nanchang Nanjing Nantong Ningbo Qingdao Quanzhou Quzhou Rizhao Sanming Shanghai Hongqiao Shanghai Pudong Shangrao Sunan ( Wuxi / Suzhou ) Taizhou Luqiao Weifang Weihai Wenzhou Wuyishan Xiamen Xuzhou Yancheng Yangzhou / Taizhou Yantai Yichun Mingyueshan Yiwu Zhoushan South Central Baise Beihai Changde Changsha Enshi Foshan Guangzhou Guilin Haikou Hechi Hengyang Hong Kong Huaihua Huizhou Jieyang Liuzhou Luoyang Macau Meizhou Nanning Nanyang Qionghai Sanya Shaoyang Shennongjia Shenzhen Shiyan Wuhan Wuzhou Xiangyang Yichang Yongxing Island Yongzhou Zhangjiajie Zhanjiang Zhengzhou Zhuhai Southwest Anshun Baoshan Bijie Cangyuan Chengdu Chongqing Dali Daocheng Dazhou Dehong Mangshi Diqing Shangri - La Guangyuan Guiyang Hongyuan Jiuzhaigou Kaili Kangding Kunming Lancang Lhasa Libo Lijiang Lincang Liping Liupanshui Luzhou Mianyang Nanchong Ngari Ninglang Nyingchi Panzhihua Pu'er Qamdo Qianjiang Shigatse Tengchong Tongren Wanzhou Wenshan Xichang Xingyi Xishuangbanna Yibin Zhaotong Zunyi Maotai Zunyi Xinzhou Northwest Aksu Altay Ankang Bole Delingha Dunhuang Fuyun Gannan Golmud Golog Guyuan Hami Hanzhong Hotan Huatugou Jiayuguan Jinchang Kanas Karamay Kashgar Korla Kuqa Lanzhou Longnan Qiemo Qingyang Shache Shihezi Tacheng Tianshui Turpan Ürümqi Xi'an Xining Xinyuan Yan'an Yinchuan Yining Yulin Yushu Zhangye Zhongwei Under construction Ankang Fuqiang Bazhong Beijing Daxing Chengdu Tianfu Chenzhou Dalian Jinzhouwan Danzhou Garze Heze Honghe Jiaxing Lishui Luzhou Yunlong Nagqu Qilian Qingdao Jiaodong Ruoqiang Sanya Hongtangwan Shangqiu Shaoguan Suifenhe Tumxuk Wuhu Xuancheng Wulong Wushan Wuzhou Xijiang Xiamen Xiang'an Xiangxi Xingtai Xinyang Yibin Wuliangye Yueyang Yutian Zhaosu Defunct Anyang Bengbu Chongqing Baishiyi Chongqing Guangyangba Datong Huairen Ganzhou ( former ) Guangzhou ( former ) Guilin Qifengling Hangzhou Jianqiao Hanzhong Xiguan Hefei Luogang Hengyang Bajialing Hong Kong Kai Tak Jilin Jingzhou Jinzhou Xiaolingzi Kunming Wujiaba Liangping Nanjing Dajiaochang Qiemo ( former ) Qinhuangdao Shanhaiguan Shanghai Jiangwan Shanghai Longhua Shantou Waisha Suzhou Wuhu Wanli Xi'an Xiguan Yantai Laishan Yulin Xisha Note : italic indicates international airports Transport in Hong Kong Government agencies Transport and Housing Bureau Transport Department Highways Department Civil Aviation Department Marine Department Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre ( HKMRCC ) Road Expressways Buses ( Bus history ) Roads and streets Routes Licence plates Hong Kong -- Zhuhai -- Macau Bridge Rail MTR MTR Corporation Kowloon -- Canton Railway Kowloon - Canton Railway Corporation Peak Tram Hong Kong Tramways Water Port Kwai Chung Container Terminals River Trade Terminal Ocean Terminal Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Air Aviation history List of airports Hong Kong International Airport ( Kai Tak Chek Lap Kok ) Shek Kong Airfield Cathay Pacific Cathay Dragon HAECO Hong Kong Airlines HK Express Other topics List of tunnels and bridges Octopus card Victoria Harbour Crossings Victoria Harbour crossings Vehicular harbour crossings in Hong Kong Cross-Harbour Tunnel Eastern Harbour Crossing Western Harbour Crossing Ferry operators Coral Sea Ferry Fortune Ferry Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry New World First Ferry Star Ferry Reclamations Praya Reclamation Scheme Praya East Reclamation Scheme Central and Wan Chai Reclamation Geography Belcher Bay Channel Rock Green Island Hoi Sham Island Hung Hom Bay Kellett Island Kowloon Bay Kowloon Rock Lei Yue Mun Rumsey Rock Stonecutters Island Typhoon shelters Causeway Bay Kwun Tong Sam Ka Tsuen Shau Kei Wan To Kwa Wan Yau Ma Tei Conservation Protection of the Harbour Ordinance Society for Protection of the Harbour Other topics A Symphony of Lights Avenue of Stars Island Eastern Corridor Kai Tak Airport Port of Hong Kong Sea terminals Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal Hong Kong -- Macau Ferry Terminal Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Ocean Terminal Piers Current Fenwick Pier Hung Hom Ferry Pier Kowloon City Ferry Pier Kowloon Public Pier Kwun Tong Ferry Pier North Point Ferry Pier Sai Wan Ho Ferry Pier Star Ferry Pier, Central Tong Shui Road Public Pier Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier Tsuen Wan Pier Wan Chai Pier Former Blake Pier Chai Wan Ferry Pier City Hall Ferry Pier Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier Jordan Road Ferry Pier Mei Foo Ferry Pier Mong Kok Ferry Pier Ngau Tau Kok Ferry Pier Sham Shui Po Ferry Pier Tai Kok Tsui Ferry Pier Tai Koo Shing Ferry Pier Tsim Sha Tsui East Ferry Pier United Pier Yaumatei Ferry Pier Immigration control points in Hong Kong Airport China Ferry Terminal Hung Hom Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Lo Wu Lok Ma Chau Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Macau Ferry Terminal Man Kam To Ocean Terminal Sha Tau Kok Shenzhen Bay Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal Shipping control points Harbour Control River Trade Terminal Future Heung Yuen Wai Hong Kong -- Zhuhai -- Macau Bridge West Kowloon Terminus Defunct Kai Tak Airport Tai Kok Tsui Ferry Pier Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kai_Tak_Airport&oldid=834320156 '' Categories : Airports established in 1925 Airports disestablished in 1998 Airports in Hong Kong Defunct airports in China Former buildings and structures in Hong Kong Kowloon Bay Kowloon City District Victoria Harbour 1998 disestablishments in Hong Kong 1925 establishments in Hong Kong Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links EngvarB from May 2013 Use dmy dates from May 2013 Coordinates on Wikidata Articles containing Chinese - language text All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from April 2007 Wikipedia articles needing clarification from January 2018 All articles with vague or ambiguous time Vague or ambiguous time from August 2014 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español فارسی Français 한국어 हिन्दी Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Svenska தமிழ் ไทย Тоҷикӣ Türkçe Tiếng Việt 吴语 粵語 中文 16 more Edit links This page was last edited on 5 April 2018, at 02 : 11. 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Question: where did hong kong airport used to be
Answer: the west side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon, Hong Kong