The new Terminal 2 at Hong Kong International Airport is opening in May this year

Here’s some good news for anyone who has ever watched the minutes tick away while stuck in a check-in queue at the airport – the new Terminal 2 (T2) at Hong Kong International Airport will officially start welcoming passengers on May 27, 2026! The chairman of the Airport Authority Fred Lam made the announcement during Lunar New Year celebrations at the airport, with secretary for transport and logistics Mable Chan adding that the Three-Runway System will also be fully operational. 

Opening just in time to take on the summer travel rush, the departure facilities of the expanded Terminal 2 will offer travellers a new generation of check-in facilities and numerous smart technologies all in one “trendy and vibrant space for leisure travellers”. 

Around 15 airlines – mostly short-haul and regional routes – will gradually shift operations to the new terminal, including Hong Kong Airlines, HK Express, and Greater Bay Airlines, as well as other short-haul flights to destinations in Southeast Asia. With most long-haul and full-service flights continuing in Terminal 1, this split should help distribute passenger traffic more evenly and give regional travellers a less crowded (and less stressful) start to their journeys. Early estimates suggest T2 could handle up to 15 million passengers by the end of 2026, with room to scale up in the coming years.

While the full airside concourse and dedicated gates likely won’t arrive until 2027, passengers can easily reach T2 via the Airport Express, where the same platform will be used for both terminals with doors opening directly into the new area. From Terminal 1, clear signage will guide travellers to a short connection, while buses, taxis, private cars, and coaches can drop passengers off directly at T2’s expanded landside zone.

If you’ve already booked a short getaway for the summer or are planning to, remember to check for updates on your flight to confirm whether check-in will be moved to the new terminal. Either way, the expansion should take off some of that pre-flight stress and make flying out of Hong Kong a little less of a grind.

Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox

Recommended stories:

Applications for the 2026 Cheung Chau Bun Scrambling Competition are opening soon

The footbridge connecting IFC to Central Ferry Pier has closed after 19 years

This 80-year-old cha chaan teng in Wan Chai is closing down in March