Air Services and Safety Management

The Air Services and Safety Management Division (ASMD) is responsible for monitoring the operations of airlines in compliance with bilateral air services arrangements; providing information to relevant authorities regarding air transport licence applications by local airlines and for air services negotiations; providing schedule co-ordination and slot allocation services to airlines and other aircraft operators; developing and implementing noise mitigating measures; setting out and implementing safety policy to promote and enhance safety of the aviation system; and regulating Hong Kong air navigation services. The ASMD is also responsible for handling civil aviation legislative matters; regulating the operations of small unmanned aircraft in Hong Kong; furnishing air traffic statistics to international organisations; and coordinating the formulation of departmental training policy for departmental professional grade staff.

Air Services

Air Traffic

In 2023-24, there was 45.08 million of passenger throughput which represented an increase of 265% when compared with the previous year. This also accounted for about 63% of the pre-pandemic passenger level, and the figure rose further to 68% in March 2024. On the cargo side, global demand remained robust, with throughput up 9% year on year to 4.48 million tonnes. Aircraft movements experienced a year-on-year increase of 92%, with 309 672 movements recorded during the year, reaching 74% of the pre-pandemic level. In March 2024, 29 825 aircraft movements were recorded, which was about 81% of the pre-pandemic level. During the year, 119 airlines operated direct services to and from Hong Kong, covering 176 cities/airports.

Given the challenges posed to the air services sector by global economic uncertainties and geopolitical issues, the ASMD has continued to take a proactive approach in supporting the industry's operations, especially by expediting the processing of flight applications from airlines. During the year, the ASMD handled and approved applications for about 12 000 extra sections and charter all-cargo flights. To consolidate Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub, the ASMD is working closely with the industry to tackle the challenges ahead.

Services by Local Carriers

Services by local carriers as at the end of March 2024 were outlined in the ensuing paragraphs.

Cathay Pacific Airways Limited operated direct services to 79 destinations worldwide, including new destinations to Chengdu (Tianfu), Haikou, Mexico City (Felipe Ángeles), and Shanghai (Hongqiao).

AHK Air Hong Kong Limited operated direct all-cargo services to 14 destinations in Asia.

Hong Kong Airlines Limited operated direct services to 22 destinations, adding Chengdu (Tianfu), Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Nagoya and Phuket to its network.

Hong Kong Express Airways Limited operated direct passenger services to 24 destinations, adding Beijing (Daxing), Hanoi and Manila to its network.

Hong Kong Air Cargo Carrier Limited operated direct all-cargo services to 16 destinations, adding Liege, London (Stansted), Milan and Riyadh to its network.

Greater Bay Airlines Company Limited operated direct passenger services to six destinations, adding Manila and Osaka to its network.

Heliservices (Hong Kong) Limited continued to operate local passenger charters and aerial work services.

Sky Shuttle Helicopters Limited operated passenger charters between Hong Kong and Macau until September 2023 and surrendered its licence to the Air Transport Licensing Authority (ATLA) in November 2023.

Services by Non-Hong Kong Carriers

Three non-Hong Kong airlines launched new scheduled passenger services to Hong Kong during the year. Qingdao Airlines for services from Qingdao and Huangshan in September 2023; Tata SIA Airlines (Vistara) for services from Delhi in October 2023; and Ruili Airlines for services from Nanning in February 2024.

For scheduled all-cargo services, four non-Hong Kong operators commenced new services to Hong Kong. One Air Limited commenced services from London (Heathrow) in December 2023; Challenge Air Cargo commenced services from Malta in January 2024; World Cargo Airlines commenced services from Kota Kinabalu in January 2024; and Tasman Cargo Airlines commenced services from Sydney in March 2024.

On the other hand, five airlines suspended their scheduled services to and from Hong Kong – Bamboo Airways in July 2023, Tianjin Airlines in September 2023, Sky Lease I, Inc. and PT Rusky Aero Indonesia (dba Raindo United Services) in January 2024, and Royal Air Charter Service in February 2024.

During the year, the CAD issued 127 operating permits to airlines for operation of scheduled services to and from Hong Kong, and processed around 9 200 applications for changes to the schedules. A total of 2 963 permits were also issued for the operation of charter services to, from and in Hong Kong.

Tariffs

During the year, the CAD processed 382 tariff filings for carriage of passengers and cargo on scheduled services to and from Hong Kong.

Besides, the time-limited arrangement to allow airlines to levy cargo fuel surcharge based on the current cargo fuel surcharge mechanism of the CAD for flights originating from Hong Kong is in effect and will continue until 31 December 2024.

Air Transport Licensing

In accordance with the Air Transport (Licensing of Air Services) Regulations (Chapter 448A), any person intending to use a Hong Kong-registered aircraft to operate scheduled services to carry passengers, mail or cargo must apply to the ATLA for a licence for such operations. The CAD provides the ATLA with air services-related information and statistics on licence applications when necessary.

Slot Allocation

In accordance with the Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines (WASG), the Hong Kong Schedule Coordination Office of the CAD managed slot allocation in a fair, neutral and transparent manner, with a view to ensuring the efficient utilisation of existing airport infrastructure.

During the year, the amount of slot requests at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) had increased substantially. After coordination, a total of 312 258 slots were allocated to airlines and other aircraft operators at the HKIA. This represented a year-on-year increase of 92%, and amounted to 82% of the pre-pandemic level.

According to the WASG, airlines are usually entitled to retain a series of slots for the next equivalent season if their flights were operated at least 80% of the slots allocated.

To alleviate the pressure on the aviation industry during the pandemic, the CAD suspended the 80% utilisation requirement from August 2019. Having closely monitored the post-pandemic recovery of the aviation industry and taken into account the continued growth of air traffic at the HKIA, the CAD informed airlines in August 2023 that the 80% utilisation rule would be reinstated starting from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Winter Season 2023 (from 29 October 2023).

The CAD will continue to work closely with industry stakeholders to ensure efficient utilisation of slots.

Aircraft Noise Management

The CAD is conscious of the noise impact that aircraft operations may have on local community and has implemented a number of noise mitigating measures based on the guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The CAD has been monitoring the implementation of various noise mitigating measures and aircraft noise situations in various districts through the computerised Aircraft Noise and Flight Track Monitoring System (ANFTMS). The ANFTMS comprises of multiple outdoor noise monitoring terminals (NMTs) installed at strategic locations in Hong Kong to monitor and record noise data for aircraft operating into and out of the HKIA, and a computer system that correlates noise data collected with the actual aircraft flight tracks detected by the CAD's radar system. In view of the commissioning of the North Runway in July 2022, the CAD has expanded the ANFTMS by installing additional NMTs at representative locations close to the flight paths of the North Runway.

Apart from the aircraft noise abatement operational procedures, the CAD has prohibited aircraft not meeting the relevant aircraft noise standards from landing and taking off in Hong Kong since 2002. To further alleviate aircraft noise disturbance to local communities, starting from the end of March 2019, aircraft that do not comply with the noise standards stipulated in Volume I, Part II, Chapter 4 of Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, or equivalent, are not allowed to operate at the HKIA between 10 pm and 7 am the following day. The CAD will review this arrangement from time to time and closely monitor the latest developments of ICAO, the international aviation industry and the operation of the HKIA to consider the need to strengthen the relevant requirement.

During the year, the CAD handled 556 aircraft noise complaints. Detailed investigation was carried out for every single case and the results would be explained to the complainants. In an effort to enhance the understanding of the noise mitigating measures and noise monitoring work by the local community, the CAD maintained close liaison with the District Councils.

Activities of ICAO

For maintenance of Hong Kong's status as a centre of international and regional civil aviation and the discharge of Hong Kong's responsibilities under the regional air navigation procedures of ICAO in accordance with the Basic Law, the CAD continued to participate actively in ICAO's activities including meetings, symposiums, seminars, etc. During the year, the CAD representatives attended 10 ICAO meetings which were limited to states as part of the delegation of the People's Republic of China, and 34 ICAO meetings which were not so limited, using the name "Hong Kong, China". Details of these 44 meetings are provided in the Appendix. The CAD also exchanged 436 letters with ICAO, the majority of which involved comments and information on technical matters related to civil aviation.

Activities of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

The CAD has consistently supported aviation related activities and initiatives of APEC using the name "Hong Kong, China". During the year, the CAD handled 28 requests relating to APEC, which involved provision of comments and information on technical matters related to civil aviation.

Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA)

To seize the immense potential of SUA application while safeguarding aviation and public safety, the Government introduced a subsidiary legislation, the Small Unmanned Aircraft Order (SUA Order), under the Civil Aviation Ordinance (Cap. 448), as a forward-looking regulatory regime for SUA. Under the law that took full effect on 1 December 2022, SUA operations are regulated under a risk-based approach and classified according to the weight of the SUA and the operational risk level. Operations of different risk levels are subject to the corresponding regulatory requirements, including registration and labelling of SUA, registration of remote pilots, training and assessment, equipment, operating requirements and insurance, etc.

To facilitate compliance with the requirements, the CAD officially launched the "Electronic Portal for Small Unmanned Aircraft (eSUA)" in May 2022, which is available on both the mobile application and the web portal. The public may take advantage of the user friendly platform to register, make applications and access safety information, including the Drone Map for restricted flying zones in force, safety requirement documents and guidance materials, and receive notifications of latest safety updates. Meanwhile, the CAD has kept up its publicity and educational efforts through various means, including publishing safety information and guidelines on the CAD's website, distributing safety leaflets, presenting the legislation and related safety messages through various platforms and briefing sessions, conducting joint publicity events with the Police, etc., in order to raise the safety awareness of the relevant sectors and organisations, as well as the general public, about SUA operations.

As at the end of March 2024, the CAD handled more than 28 000 remote pilot registration applications and more than 36 000 SUA registration applications. The Director-General of Civil Aviation had issued over 120 Advanced Operations Permissions to SUA operators. Over 2 500 trainees completed training under the SUA Advanced Training Organisation Scheme, in preparation for obtaining Advanced Ratings to conduct higher-risk SUA operations.

Strategic Safety Office

The Strategic Safety Office is responsible for coordinating the implementation of safety management initiatives and requirements, including activities relating to the State Safety Programme (SSP) and Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA) for the CAD, and promoting the effective implementation of safety management principles.

Continuous Monitoring Approach Implementation

Under the CMA adopted by ICAO, all states and administrations are required to provide relevant information for ICAO's continuous assessment of the safety oversight capability of concerned authorities in order to ensure global aviation safety.

During the year, the CAD sustained its efforts to proactively implement the CMA activities through a coordinated approach with stakeholders, which included formulation of action plans and associated tasks, provision of updated information to ICAO and regular review of the CMA documentation.

ICAO State Safety Programme Implementation

During the year, the CAD continued to implement the SSP according to the Hong Kong Aviation Safety Programme, which was reviewed and updated with reference to the latest ICAO's requirements and guidance on safety management.

With the publication of its Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) 2023-2025 edition, the ICAO presented an enhanced global roadmap for the continuous improvement of aviation safety. In support of the implementation of the GASP, the CAD joined ICAO's working group for the development of the Asia Pacific Regional Aviation Safety Plan 2023-2025 edition, charting the strategies to strengthen safety oversight and reduce safety risks in the region.

The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Victor Liu, was elected as the Chairperson of the Regional Aviation Safety Group – Asia Pacific (RASG-APAC) of ICAO for a three-year term in 2020, which he successfully completed at the 13th Meeting of the RASG-APAC on 18 – 19 December 2023. At the same meeting, the then Assistant Director-General of Civil Aviation (Airport Standards), Miss Clara Wong, was elected as the new Vice Chairperson of the RASG-APAC for a three-year term. With a current membership of 41 APAC states/administrations, the RASG-APAC aims to develop and implement a regional performance framework for the management of aviation safety and serves as a regional platform to promote safety initiatives. During the year, the CAD continued to support the RASG on various regional safety strategies, including the promotion of aviation safety with regional partners and the exchange of the SSP implementation experiences.

The CAD will continue to periodically review and refine our existing safety oversight system and implement the related global aviation safety strategies and safety management provisions with a view to continually enhancing our safety regulation.

Air Traffic Management Standards Office (ATMSO)

The ATMSO is responsible for ensuring that a high standard of safety in the provision of air navigation services in Hong Kong is established, achieved and maintained.

Safety Oversight Activities

The ATMSO conducted regular audits and safety inspections on the Air Traffic Management Division (ATMD) and Air Traffic Engineering Services Division (AESD). During the year, a total of 28 audits and safety inspections were conducted.

The safety inspections covered operations, procedures, training and examinations in air traffic management and communication, navigation and surveillance activities; implementation of Safety Management System (SMS); air traffic control (ATC) equipment/systems; safety occurrences investigations; maintenance arrangement; internal audits and follow-up actions arising from safety recommendations.

As part of its duties, the ATMSO participated in the preliminary investigations of all ATC incidents jointly with the ATMD investigators to determine the category and severity of the incident. A decision would then be made as to the form of investigation to be conducted in accordance with the established provisions. During the year, the ATMSO conducted safety review of ATC incidents.

Through the Air Navigation Services Standards Coordination Meeting and the Air Traffic Safety Assessment Committee, the ATMSO also regularly reviewed issues pertinent to safety occurrences, implementation of the SMS and safe air navigation service provision in collaboration with an air navigation service provider and the safety personnel of other stakeholders including Flight Standards and Airworthiness Division, major local airline operators and the Government Flying Service to promote continual development and improvement.

Documentation

The ATMSO reviews and updates existing regulatory documents periodically to ensure that they remain accurate, valid and up-to-date.

Personnel Licensing for Air Traffic Controllers

In accordance with the standards in Annex 1 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation and the requirements of Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995, the ATMSO processed 94 initial awards of ATC Licences, ATC Ratings and Certificates, as well as 246 renewals of Ratings and Certificates.

Safety Promotion

For safety promotion, the ATMSO conducted periodic briefings on safety culture and the SMS as well as issued safety promotion information to air navigation service providers and staff of maintenance service providers to reinforce safety oversight and safety management concepts. In addition, the ATMSO regularly published regulatory information and safety management materials on the intranet for convenient access by all air navigation services staff.

Training and Development

The ASMD provided support in formulating the departmental training policy and making recommendations on the endorsement of the departmental training programme. Through regular liaison with divisional training coordinators, the ASMD also helped organise department-wide training events.

Knowledge Management Activities

To further promote a continuous learning culture in the CAD, the ASMD organised knowledge management activities such as talks on the latest aviation developments or trends and visits to major stakeholders.

Aviation Education Path

The Aviation Education Path (AEP) continued to serve as a valuable gateway for the CAD to enhance public understanding of the functions and responsibilities of various divisions of the CAD, the historical developments of civil aviation in Hong Kong, the ongoing construction of the Three-runway System and the importance of aviation safety.

The AEP was opened for public visit during the year. In the year, the AEP received around 11 300 visitors, with the majority being local students participating in guided group tours.

Youth Development

To enhance young people's understanding of the aviation industry and cultivate their aspiration to join the aviation industry, the CAD launched the Youth in Aviation Programme (the Programme) during the year.

Under the Programme, the CAD and the Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol (HKRSP) jointly organised the Aviation Safety Knowledge Badge Scheme (the Scheme) from November 2023. The Scheme not only enables student members of the HKRSP to gain knowledge of aviation safety, but also serves to inspire them to join the aviation industry, in line with the Government's Youth Development Blueprint, and makes contribution in the long term to the development of Hong Kong as an international aviation hub as set out in the National 14th Five-Year Plan. As at the end of March 2024, more than 200 HKRSP members participated in various activities under the Scheme.

The Scheme kicked off the CAD's Youth in Aviation Programme series. The CAD will continue to co-operate with different youth organisations and uniformed groups to provide diversified programmes and activities for young people in the future, in a bid to enhance their understanding of and interests in aviation as well as nurture talents for the aviation industry with the CAD's utmost effort.