The new Terminal 2 departures hall at Hong Kong International Airport
What Changed at Hong Kong Airport
Hong Kong International Airport opened the departure facilities of its rebuilt Terminal 2 on 27 May 2026, marking the biggest infrastructure shift at the airport since it moved from Kai Tak in 1998. The expansion is part of the Three-Runway System project that has been reshaping the airport over the past several years.
Fifteen airlines have relocated their check-in operations from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2, with the full transition completed by 10 June 2026. The move primarily affects regional and short-haul carriers. Full-service long-haul airlines, including Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates, remain at Terminal 1.
The practical impact for anyone living in Hong Kong is straightforward: before heading to the airport, you now need to confirm which terminal your airline uses. Turning up at the wrong one is not a disaster (the terminals are connected), but it adds time you would rather spend at the gate.
Which Airlines Now Depart from Terminal 2
The 15 airlines that have moved to Terminal 2 are listed below. All completed their relocation by 10 June 2026.
| Airline | Primary Region |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong Airlines | Regional Asia |
| HK Express | Regional Asia |
| Greater Bay Airlines | Regional Asia |
| AirAsia | Southeast Asia |
| Philippines AirAsia | Southeast Asia |
| Thai AirAsia | Southeast Asia |
| Batik Air Malaysia | Southeast Asia |
| Thai Lion Air | Southeast Asia |
| Cambodia Airways | Southeast Asia |
| Cebu Pacific | Southeast Asia |
| VietJet | Southeast Asia |
| Bangkok Airways | Southeast Asia |
| IndiGo | South Asia |
| Jeju Air | East Asia |
| Hainan Airlines | Mainland China |
If your airline is not on this list, you are still departing from Terminal 1. That includes Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, and all other long-haul carriers.
The simplest way to check is your airline’s app or booking confirmation (airlines like HK Express have published T2 guides), which now shows the terminal assignment.
How to Get to Terminal 2
Terminal 2 is directly connected to the same transport network that serves Terminal 1. No new routes or transfers are needed.
Airport Express: The MTR Airport Express remains the fastest way to reach the airport from central Hong Kong (approximately 24 minutes from Hong Kong Station). The train now opens doors on both sides at the airport stop: one side for Terminal 1, the other directly for Terminal 2. If you hold an Octopus card, you can tap through as usual. Picking up a local SIM card before you fly is also worth doing if you need mobile data at your destination. Fares have not changed.
Airport buses: Twenty-nine bus routes have added a stop at the Terminal 2 departures level. Routes serving popular expat areas (including the A11 from Sheung Wan/Central, A21 from Mong Kok/Jordan, and A29 from Tung Chung) all stop at T2.
Taxi and private car: Taxis and ride-hailing services such as Uber can drop off at the kerb side of T2 departures level. Tell your driver “Terminal 2 departures” to avoid being dropped at T1 by default.
Car Park 3: A six-storey car park with over 1,000 spaces is connected to T2 by a short covered walkway. This is the most convenient self-drive option for T2 departures.
Walking between terminals: A covered pedestrian bridge connects T1 and T2 on the landside (before security). Walking time is roughly five minutes.
Check-In, Security, and the APM Transfer
Terminal 2’s departure hall houses over 170 check-in counters spread across eight aisles. Self check-in kiosks and a Smartphone Express Bag Drop service are available at aisles R, S, T, and U for passengers who prefer to skip the counter queue.
After check-in, passengers proceed through biometric e-Security Gates. The new system is designed to cut departure processing time by roughly 25%, with facial recognition clearance taking under seven seconds for eligible travellers. A welcome change from the old setup: you can now keep laptops and bottled liquids under 100ml inside your carry-on bag during screening.
Once through security and immigration at T2, you will need to take the Automated People Mover (APM) to reach your boarding gate at Terminal 1. The ride takes a few minutes and operates from 05:30 to 00:30 daily. This is because the T2 boarding concourse is not yet operational (see the section below on what is still coming).
The key takeaway: allow an extra 10 to 15 minutes in your airport schedule to account for the APM transfer. If you normally arrive 90 minutes before a regional flight, consider bumping that to two hours until the process becomes routine.
Dining and Shopping at Terminal 2
Terminal 2 currently has eight dining outlets and twelve retail shops on the departures level. The food options lean practical rather than fine dining, which suits early-morning and late-night flyers.
Restaurants and cafes include TamJai SamGor Mixian (rice noodles), Milk Cafe (a classic Hong Kong cha chaan teng), Jollibee, McDonald’s, Ufufu Cafe, Yukimura (Japanese), Nap Tea, and Cupping Room Coffee Roasters. Four of these outlets operate around the clock, making them useful for red-eye departures or early check-ins before dawn.
What T2 does not have yet: airline lounges, duty-free shopping, and airside retail. All of these remain at Terminal 1. After clearing security at T2, you access them when the APM takes you to T1’s airside area. If your priority is lounge access or duty-free purchases before boarding, factor in the transfer time.
What Is Still Coming
The current T2 opening covers the departures hall only, meaning check-in, security, and immigration. The T2 Concourse, which will add 27 boarding gates (including seven multi-aircraft ramp stands), is scheduled to open in late 2027. Once complete, T2 will handle both departures and arrivals independently, eliminating the APM transfer to T1.
All arrivals, baggage claim, and transfer procedures remain at Terminal 1 for now.
The broader goal is significant. Hong Kong International Airport served 61 million passengers in 2025, up 15% from the previous year. The Three-Runway System and T2 expansion are designed to push the airport’s long-term annual capacity to approximately 120 million passengers, nearly doubling current throughput.
For expats planning weekend getaways or expecting visitors, the important date is late 2027: that is when T2 becomes a fully self-contained terminal with its own gates and lounges. Until then, think of T2 as a faster, less crowded front door that still routes through T1 for boarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which terminal is my airline at?
Check your airline app or boarding pass. The 15 airlines listed above (including HK Express, Hong Kong Airlines, AirAsia, IndiGo, and Cebu Pacific) now depart from Terminal 2. All other carriers, including Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines, remain at Terminal 1.
Do I need to go to Terminal 1 for my gate?
Yes, for now. After checking in and clearing security at T2, you take the APM (a short automated train) to T1 for boarding. This step will no longer be necessary once the T2 Concourse opens in late 2027.
Are there lounges at Terminal 2?
Not yet. All airline lounges remain at Terminal 1. You can access them after taking the APM from T2 to T1’s airside area.
How early should I arrive for a T2 flight?
Allow two hours before departure for regional flights and three hours for any flight requiring extra processing. The new biometric security is fast, but the APM transfer to T1 adds roughly 10 to 15 minutes to your journey.
Can I walk between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2?
Yes, before security. A covered pedestrian bridge on the landside level connects the two terminals in about five minutes. After security, the only connection is the APM.
