LI, Tao @ Hong Kong

HONG KONG: The head of Cathay Pacific Airlines says conditions at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) demand that a third runway be constructed in the future.

“Capacity constraints at HKIA are a problem and in the short-to-medium term we need to increase the runway frequency rate. In the longer term, however, there is no doubt that a third runway will be needed,” said Tony Tyler, current chief executive of Cathay Pacific.

During an interview regarding how the Hong Kong hub could maintain its competitiveness in light of increased integration, Tyler said unlike a number of rival hubs in the region that are already adding more capacity but finding their runways underutilized, building a third runway in Hong Kong would be necessary, since many airlines wish to open routes to Hong Kong and HKIA needs to grow and develop its business.

However, massive construction projects on Chap Lap Kok Island, including the building of a third runway, came up for debate as the aviation industry faced heavy operating losses.

The global economic crisis has squeezed the air transportation business hard since last year. Cathay Pacific cut capacity by 8 percent after passenger figures in June suffered an 18 percent drop below last year. Airline staff were asked to take special unpaid leave, over a 12-month period, of one to four weeks duration, depending on seniority.

Critics argued that a third runway was not necessary, accusing the Airport Authority’s property manager of wasting public funds, in the fashion of the Terminal Two fiasco, which many labelled as empire building at the expense of taxpayers.

Tyler takes a different view. “Business has taken a dive recently, so it’s perhaps not as urgent as it was, but it is still important that it’s done. These things take a long time; so it’s very important that the planning and preparation work is pushed ahead.”

As to the proposed rail link between HKIA and Shenzhen International Airport, Tyler said, “It’s been shown around the world that people prefer single-hub transfers.”

But one thing is clear to him, “A rail link cannot be a substitute for a third runway.”

China Daily

(HK Edition 09/16/2009 page1)

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hkedition/2009-09/16/content_8695950.htm

第一篇在China Daily HK发表的文章，被匿名。不过还是应该庆祝下。编辑对我还算手下留情，文章的大致内容没有动，稍微改了几个句子的表达。