Interview with Mr. Chris Barrow - Director of Flight Operations at Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre

HKBAC is fully prepared for the increased demand in business aviation and travel. With Hong Kong's borders fully open (without restriction), we are ready to serve the community and facilitate smooth travel to-and-from the region. As the popularity of private jets continues to grow, HKBAC is committed to providing an unparalleled service to our customers. In this interview, we speak with Mr. Chris Barrow - Director of Flight Operations at HKBAC, to learn more about the latest travel tips and how HKBAC is adapting to meet the growing demand for business aviation.

How can operators and customers best plan to visit Hong Kong??

Hong Kong’s borders are now fully open without restriction. With business aviation and the popularity of private jets growing, HKBAC continues to serve the community and facilitate smooth travel to and from Hong Kong.

With the advancement of slot booking window for GA/BA services with effect from 25 May 2023, the runway slot and parking stand booking are widened from 14 to 30 calendar days. It marks a significant step forward for the GA/BA services and the Hong Kong economy.?This extended runway slot(s) and parking stand(s) application period will greatly benefit our clients and enhance their travelling experience.

HKBAC tips for travel

• We encourage operators and customers to plan trips to Hong Kong in advance as landing slots and parking are available in majority with greater confidence on certainty for planning.
• ?As Asia’s Premier fixed-base operator (FBO), HKBAC is here to help. If any operator or customer is unsure of how to operate to/from Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), please contact our team. We can signpost you to the appropriate department, advise on process, and apply for slots on your behalf.

HKIA’s Third-Runway and Facility Expansion

• The new North Runway has been in commission since 2022.?HKIA is undergoing a transition to its Three-Runway System (3RS), scheduled for 2024.
• While the commercial traffic is picking up but has not resumed full capacity of pre-COVID level yet and the Runway systems have been enhanced, a GA/BA activity is benefited with greater flexibility.?We expect this to enhance even further once the 3RS is fully functional in late 2024.?

How has Hong Kong’s business aviation environment changed?

Because of the reduction / cessation / and disruption to commercial travel, awareness of business aviation has increased significantly. As a result, charter flights have significantly increased along with the number new users that have not previously utilised private jets. Customers are now aware of the efficiency of business jet travel including time saved in the arrival and departure process, flexibility of flight schedules (which are tailored to their needs), and a smoother process at Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ). In addition, jet use is now better understood as providing enhanced personal safety, privacy, security, and hygiene levels; both inside HKBAC and on board the aircraft.??

There has also been an increase in new customer groups in recent years including medical wellness, repatriation and even pet travel flights. HKBAC operated a significant number of such flights throughout the pandemic.

HKBAC encourages all customers to reach out to their preferred charter operator to take advantage of these benefits and cater to your business or leisure needs.?Please contact our Customer Service team if you need any assistance with finding a suitable charter operator.

What are the current operating conditions in Hong Kong?

• Parking in HKIA is allocated to the HKBAC apron and designated remote parking stands.
• Aircraft arrivals and departures will be arranged to operate in both locations pending the duration of stay, size of aircraft and daily live operations with the focus on passengers embarking & disembarking at the HKBAC Apron.?
• We continue to improve the HKBAC apron parking conditions and have recently enhanced our apron to be able to handle up to 7 Global Express 7500 aircraft and the Boeing 737 Max 8 and BBJ.?
• HKBAC has up to 11 parking spaces inside hangars which can be made available for parking (on a first-come-first-served basis) when resident aircraft are outside of HKIA.?
• HKBAC also has access to remote parking stands to ensure that we are fully utilising all available space in HKIA.
• We are prepared for an increase in arrivals into HKIA and will relocate aircraft accordingly via cross runway towing or self-taxi operations.?

What do you see for the future of business aviation?

• At HKBAC, we see a strong demand for new customers to make use of business aviation via the charter market.
• With the opening of the border with mainland China, we foresee an increase in connectivity between Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA).?
• HKBAC will act as a gateway to the GBA and international markets due to our unique, central location in the region.?
• In order to cater for increased operations, HKBAC is undergoing a Terminal Redevelopment Project to enhance and expand our facilities further. As always, we strive to lead the way in Asia by ensuring our passenger and crew experience is unrivalled.??