From Kai Tak to Chek Lap Kok
For decades Hong Kong’s airport was Kai Tak, where pilots made a famous low turn over Kowloon’s apartment blocks towards a checkerboard on a hillside. In 1998 a new airport opened on Chek Lap Kok, an island flattened and expanded with reclaimed land off Lantau. It was one of the largest construction projects of the 20th century.
What you’ll see on the live stream
The stream follows a huge variety of traffic: Cathay Pacific’s long-haul fleet, HK Express low-cost flights, carriers from across Asia and the Middle East, and a constant flow of freighters, which peak overnight. Tower audio lets you follow how controllers juggle departures and arrivals on three runways.
Three runways
HKG now has three parallel runways: 07L/25R, 07C/25C and 07R/25L. The newest, built on land reclaimed to the north, was completed as part of the Three-Runway System, which became fully operational in 2024.
Best times to watch
- Overnight: peak cargo traffic.
- Late evening: long-haul departures to Europe.
- Typhoon season (summer): dramatic weather and diversions.
