Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) has established a civil aviation academy to cater for Hong Kong International Airport’s medium to long term growth.

The airport operator says it hopes to implement the plan as soon as possible and will initially involve training operations management staff, technical and service staff. AA says it will develop training, curriculum design and operational details of the civil aviation academy within a year and will work with the government and the aviation industry. Hong Kong is to built a third runway in a project known as the ‘three runway system’, which is expected to be completed by 2023. AA is to invest 40 billion Hong Kong dollars ($5.1 billion) over eight years to meet traffic demands until the runway is built.

AA chairman, Jack So Chak-kwong says: “The aviation industry is an important economic contributor to Hong Kong. It is estimated that after the three-runway system is completed, it will provide 123,000 direct jobs associated with Hong Kong International Airport.”

“Setting up a civil aviation academy in time will help us develop the talent reserves the airport needs in order to meet its massive future traffic demands. This is key to ensuring that it has staff with professional training and experience.”