Transportation to or from Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA)

Introduction

There are many kind of transportation to HKIA. Before I list them in details, I will like to point out a problem with early departure flight.

Arrival to Hong Kong usually has no problem. Departure from Hong Kong has a major problem if your flight departure time is early in the morning, for example, 8 a.m. in the morning. Your problem is how to get to the airport at 6 a.m. in the morning.

If you are a hotel guest, you will not have this problem because most hotels provide the hotel bus service or similar service that starts running at 5 a.m. in the morning. For example, HotelLink is a popular hotel bus provider.

If you are staying at remote area in Hong Kong, your choice is either taxi or private car. There is another option - sleep in the airport the night before. Personally, I choose this option because HKIA is the safest place to spend a night. You will find that many passengers will share the Departure hall with you. Washrooms are opened 24 hours. Mac Donald hamburger in the Arrival hall ( I level below the Departure hall) closes at 23.00 or 11 p.m.

Transportation in general

Hong Kong relies on public transportation. The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) and the Kowloon and Canton Railway (KCR) make up the backbone. MTR is a subway system that cross-link major areas. KCR links Kowloon and Canton of China. Public bus system is also excellent and highly competitive to the MTR. Most routes are served by double-decker buses.

Mini-bus (16 seats) fills in the gap for both short hauls and long trips. The double-decker tram in Hong Kong Island is good for short trips and visitors.

Private car is not so convenient because the lack of parking space in most of business areas. Accordingly, the rent-a-car service is hard to find in HKIA..

Available transportation to and from HKIA

  1. Airport Express Railway (AER) -- a railway links directly to downtown Hong Kong.
  2. Public bus -- many routes are provided.
  3. Hotel bus -- connect HKIA to most hotels. Open to hotel guests and the public.
  4. Taxi -- 3 different types of taxis to serve 3 different areas.
  5. Private car ¡V HKIA offers 30 minutes free parking. Long-term parking is not recommended.
  6. Limousine ¡V Limousine service is available but at a premium.
  7. Cross Boundary Coach ¡V Bus service crossing the border to major cities in Guangdong province is offered by many companies.
 

Cost

Waiting time

Travel Time

Remarks

AER

HK$100

10 min. AER+ 15 min. shuttle bus

23 min. AER+ 15 min. shuttle bus

Need connections from AER station to your destination. Carry your own luggage.

Public Bus

HK$10 up

20 min.

40 min.

Serve many popular areas. Not directly to hotels.

Hotel Bus

HK$120 up

30 min.

45 min.

Directly to your hotel. Bus driver will load and unload your luggage.

Taxi

HK$300 up

No

30 min.

Directly to your destination. Maximum number of passengers may be limited by your luggage.

Private car

  

No

30 min.

Directly to your destination.

Limousine

Expensive

No

20 min.

Directly to your destination.

Usually require reservation.

Cross Boundary Coach

HK$150

Up

45 min.

Depending On your Destination.

A quick and economy way to go to major cities in Guangdong.

 

Airport Express Railway (AER)

Airport Express Railway is a dedicated railway providing fast service to only 3 stations in the downtown area. It relies on its shuttle buses to various hotels.

Free In-town Check-in and porter services are available at Hong Kong and Kowloon Stations. Outbound passengers can check in their baggage one day before or up to 90 minutes before take-off. Free shuttle service brings passengers between all major hotels and Hong Kong or Kowloon Station at 20-minute intervals.

Airlines includes: Cathay Pacific Airways, Dragonair, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, Swissair, Vietnam Airlines, South African Airlines and China Airlines.

Points to consider if you take the AER,

  1. You have to carry your own luggage from the train to the shuttle bus. If you cannot manage to carry your own luggage, AER is not your choice.
  2. The total traveling time ¡V from the airport to your hotel needs 2 different vehicles. Do not overlook the waiting time.
  3. The 3 AER stations are poorly and remotely located. You need a taxi connection to get to them if the shuttle bus cannot meet your tight time schedule.
  4. The cost of AER and the taxi connection.
  5. Number of persons in your group. Other means of transportation may save you more and take about the same time. You can always consult with the front office staff in your hotel.

Cost of AER

From HKIA

Single Trip

Same Day Round Trip

To Tsing Yi Station

HK$60

HK$110

To Kowloon Station

HK$90

HK$160

To Hong Kong Station

HK$100

HK$180

Time of operation

 

First train

Last train

From Airport

05.54

00.48

To Tsing Yi Station

06.06

01.00

To Kowloon Station

06.15

01.07

To Hong Kong Station

06.18

01.20

 

 

First train

Last train

From Hong Kong Station

05.50

00.48

From Tsing Yi Station

05.53

00.51

From Kowloon Station

06.00

00.58

To Airport

06.13

00.63

Airport Express Shuttle Routes ¡V free with AER.
From / To AER Hong Kong Station

H1 -- Service Hour: 06:10 - 23:00
Island Shangri-La -> Conrad International Hong Kong -> Pacific Place -> JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong -> The Empire Hotel Hong Kong -> Renaissance Harbour View Hotel -> Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre -> Furama Hotel Hong Kong

H2 -- Service Hour: 06:10 - 23:00
The Wharney Hotel -> Century Hong Kong Hotel -> The Excelsior, Hong Kong -> Luk Kwok Hotel
From / To AER Kowloon Station ¡V free with AER.

K1 -- Service Hour: 06:05 - 23:00
MTR Jordan Station (alighting, Tak shung School) -> KCR Hunghom Station (alighting) -> Whampoa Garden (Tak On Street, Wing On Department Store) -> Harbour Plaza Hotel -> KCR Hunghom Station (boarding) -> MTR Jordan Station (boarding, Union Church Kowloon)

K2 -- Service Hour: 06:15 - 23:00
The Marco Polo Prince -> The Marco Polo Gateway -> The Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel -> Sheraton Hong Kong

K3 -- Service Hour: 06:05 - 23:00
The Kowloon Hotel -> Hyatt Regency Hong Kong -> Great Eagle Hotel -> Royal Pacific Hotel / China Ferry Terminal

K4 -- Service Hour: 06:15 - 23:00
New World Renaissance Hotel -> Regal Kowloon Hotel -> Hotel Nikko Hongkong -> Grand Stanford Inter-Continental Hong Kong -> Kowloon Shangri-La

K5 -- Service Hour: 06:05 - 23:00
Holiday Inn Golden Mile Hong Kong -> Park Hotel -> Hotel Miramar -> Windsor Hotel -> The Empire Hotel Kowloon -> BP International

K6 -- Service Hour: 06:15 - 23:00
Eaton Hotel Hong Kong -> Dorsett Garden Hotel -> Majestic Hotel

 

Public Bus

There are many different series of Public bus serving HKIA. They are listed below,

  1.       ¡§A¡¨ series.
  2.       ¡§E¡¨ series.
  3.       ¡§N¡¨ series.
  4.       ¡§S¡¨ series.
  5.       ¡§DB¡¨ series.

The "A" buses provide speedy transport to different parts of Hong Kong without stopping in the Tung Chung area, The "E" buses pick up passengers in the Tung Chung area.  The ¡§N¡¨ buses are mainly operator aft Night ¡V after the last bus of both ¡§A¡¨ and ¡§E¡¨ series.

To visitors, only the ¡§A¡¨ and ¡§E¡¨ buses are relevant because both ¡§A¡¨ and ¡§E¡¨ buses connect to different parts of Hong Kong.

The ¡§S¡¨ buses serve local Tung Chung area. The centre point is the Tung Chung MTR station. It Starts from Tung Chung MTR station and goes to various destinations in the airport.

The ¡§DB¡¨ buses go to Discovery Bay of Lantau Island ¡V the island joining the airport.

"A" Series

"E" Series

"N" Series

"S" Series

"DB" Series

 

Hotel Bus

Hotel buses are operated between HKIA and many hotels directly. Your travel agent will usually give you 2 free vouchers for the hotel bus. Their tickets can also be purchased at their counters in the Arrival hall or at your hotel. Non-hotel guest can also purchase their tickets.

Their first early bus to HKIA is 05.00 or 5 a.m. in the morning. You can comfortably arrive at the HKIA before 6 a.m. from your hotel.

Their bus driver will load your large and heavy luggage for you on to the bus and will unload them later.

Contact your travel agent or hotel if they will offer the free hotel bus service. The free tickets for round trips will save you more than HK$150 per person. Or contact the following service providers directly,

Taxis  

Taxi stands are located on the Left hand ramp of the Arrival hall. Separate aisles are designated for different taxis. There are 3 different types of taxis in Hong Kong.

  1. Urban taxis (red) serve all destinations throughout Hong Kong including the airport except Tung Chung Road and roads in south Lantau
  2. New Territories taxis (green) serve only the New Territories and specified roads on Lantau.
  3. Lantau taxis (blue) serve all destinations in Lantau Island only.

If you are not sure what to take, always pick the red taxi.

Taxi passengers using the Lantau Link are required to pay an additional toll fare of HK$30 irrespective of the direction of travel, and additional fares are also charged for using toll tunnels. Taxi access to Discovery Bay is not allowed.

At HKIA, there is a sufficient supply of taxis.

Taxi Fare (Approx. fare as at December 2001)

Hong Kong Island ¡V Red Taxi

Kowloon ¡V Red Taxi

New Territories ¡V Green Taxi

Lantau ¡V Blue taxi

Note: All types of taxis (Urban red, New Territories green, Lantau blue) serve the airport. Light personal hand baggage carried inside passenger compartment with total dimensions (length+width+height) not exceeding 140cm is free of charge. Larger luggage is $5 per piece.  

 

Private cars  

Hong Kong International Airport has five car parks located close to the passenger terminal. For the convenience of arriving and departing passengers, all car parks provide free 30-minute parking. However, longer parking will be charged by half-hour basis. No daily rate is available for long-term parking.

Car Parks 1, 2, 3 and 5 are open air and Car Park 4 is multi-floors. Normally Car Parks 3 and 5 are closed and only open during peak periods. All car parks provide a total of about 3,600 parking.

Special parking spaces are reserved for the disabled at Car Parks 1, 2, 3 and 4 with ramps and wheelchair access.

 

Limousine services 

Limousine service counters are found in the Arrivals Hall.   

 

Cross boundary coach services    

The airport is also the hobbling point for land transport to major cities in Guangdong province. Regular services depart from the airport between 0630 and 1900 hours. Passengers are reminded that valid travel document for the China Mainland is required before boarding the coaches.  

CTS Guangzhou, Dongguan, Shenzhen, Shenzhen Airport Airport tour
coach station -- Arrivals Hall Counter 2A
GTC(ground transport center) Counter 5B  2261 2472   2764 9803

Eternal East Dongguan, Huizhou, Foshan, Shenzhen Airport tour
coach station  Arrivals Hall Counter 4A
GTC(ground transport center) Counter 5A  2261 0176   2261 2696

GoGo Bus Express Dongguan, Changping, Huizhou and Guangzhou Airport
Tour coach station  and  Regal Airport Hotel  Arrivals Hall Counter 3A
GTC(ground transport center) Counter 5C  2261 0886   2375 0099

Airport Chinalink Dongguan, Guangzhou Airport tour
coach station  Arrivals Hall Counter 3D
GTC(ground transport center) Counter 5D  2261 2188   9747 1202

Golden Trip Express Baoan Xinqiao Airport tour coach station
GTC(ground transport center) Counter 5E  2261 2623

 

Useful phone numbers  

For details on the various public transport facilities at Hong Kong International Airport, please feel free to contact the respective service provider.   

Hong Kong International Airport Enquiry Hotline 2181 0000

Airport Express -- MTR Corporation Ltd 2881 8888 www.mtrcorp.com

Kowloon Canton Railway Corp. www.kcrc.com

Public Bus services

Hotel Bus Service

Limousine services

Cross boundary coach services

Transport Department of Hong Kong Government 2804 2600
www.info.gov.hk/td