The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has expressed its support for the Central Government’s decision to include eight additional Mainland cities in the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS). The expansion, which is expected to enhance air connectivity between Hong Kong and these cities, is anticipated to lead to a surge in both air traffic and passenger volumes at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).
Currently, four of the newly included cities under the IVS already have direct flight services with HKIA. These cities are Taiyuan in Shanxi Province, Lanzhou in Gansu Province, Yinchuan in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and Urumqi in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Plans are also in place to begin scheduled flights to and from Harbin in Heilongjiang Province, as well as increase the number of flights to and from Urumqi starting in June 2024. The initiative is expected to significantly increase the number of direct flights between Hong Kong and the involved cities.
As relationships strengthen and economic activities expand, airlines are likely to boost their services to meet the growing demand. The expansion of the IVS is seen as a strategic move to improve the aviation links between Hong Kong and the Mainland, which in turn supports economic growth and enhances passenger and cargo transport capabilities at HKIA.
