Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving 53 million international passengers in 2024, which puts Hong Kong Airport as the ninth busiest airport for international passenger traffic in that year. First opened in 1988, Hong Kong Airport has transformed into a major passenger hub in Asia especially in East Asia. Home to Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines, the airport is also designated as a passenger hub for several other airlines to connect their long-haul routes.

Hong Kong has also been known for its lenient visa policy that is aimed to attract visitors to Hong Kong. Visitors from more than 160 countries can visit Hong Kong visa-free with various length of stay ranging from 7 to 180 days. It is not uncommon to find passengers on a layover go outside of the airport to visit Hong Kong even for just few hours. The vicinity between the airport and the city is a tempting deal that a lot of international passengers decide not to miss.

If you visit Hong Kong on a layover without onward boarding pass, you will have to check in for your connecting flight that departs from Hong Kong Airport. As you arrive back at the airport after having a blast in the city, you will go through the departure procedures that are the same with the passengers in a regular departure. While Hong Kong Airport has been known for its efficiency in handling passenger traffic, you may still feel necessary to get more detailed information and nuance about the overall departure procedure so that you can save some time to enjoy the last bit of the airport before your flight takes off.

In this article, we provide you with the information on passenger airlines that operate out of Hong Kong Airport and the locations of their check-in counters. We also touch on the departure procedures and supply you with relevant resources that you may need for your next departure from Hong Kong Airport.

Passenger Airlines at Hong Kong Airport

Hong Kong Airport is the busiest airport in the world for cargo traffic in 2024. At the same time, it sits at number nine for international passenger traffic. The high international passenger traffic and the role of Hong Kong Airport as a hub airport naturally translate into a diverse array of airlines that fly to and from Hong Kong Airport.

Passenger airlines that operate from Hong Kong Airport as shown in the official web portal of the airport are listed in alphabetical order as follows:

• Aeroflot (SU)
• Air Astana (KC)
• Air Busan (BX)
• Air Cambodia (K6)
• Air Canada (AC)
• Air China (CA)
• Air France (AF)
• Air India (AI)
• Air Mauritius (MK)
• Air New Zealand (NZ)
• Air Niugini (PX)
• Air Premia (YP)
• Air Seoul (RS)
• AirAsia (AK)
• AirAsia X (D7)
• All Nippon Airways / ANA (NH)
• Asiana Airlines (OZ)
• Bangkok Airways (PG)
• Batik Air Malaysia (OD)
• British Airways (BA)
• Cambodia Airways (KR)
• Cathay Pacific (CX)
• Cebu Pacific (5J)
• China Airlines (CI)
• China Eastern Airlines (MU)
• China Southern Airlines (CZ)
• Egypt Air (MS)
• Emirates (EK)
• Ethiopian Airlines (ET)
• Etihad Airways (EY)
• Eva Air (BR)
• Eznis Airways (MG)
• Fiji Airways (FJ)
• Finnair (AY)
• Garuda Indonesia (GA)
• Greater Bay Airlines (HB)
• Hainan Airlines (HU)
• Hebei Airlines (NS)
• HK Express (UO)
• Hong Kong Airlines (HX)
• IndiGo (6E)
• Indonesia AirAsia (QZ)
• Japan Airlines (JL)
• Jeju Air (7C)
• Jiangxi Air (RY)
• Jin Air (LJ)
• Juneyao Airlines (HO)
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL)
• Korean Air (KE)
• Lanmei Airlines (LQ)
• Loong Air (GJ)
• Lucky Air (8L)
• Lufthansa (LH)
• Malaysia Airlines (MH)
• Mandarin Airlines (AE)
• MIAT Mongolian Airlines (OM)
• Nepal Airlines (RA)
• Peach Aviation (MM)
• Philippine Airlines (PR)
• Philippine AirAsia (Z2)
• Qantas Airways (QF)
• Qatar Airways (QR)
• Qingdao Airlines (QW)
• Royal Air Philippines (RW)
• Royal Brunei Airlines (BI)
• Royal Jordanian (RJ)
• Ruili Airlines (DR)
• S7 Airlines (S7)
• Scoot (TR)
• Shandong Airlines (SC)
• Shanghai Airlines (FM)
• Shenzhen Airlines (ZH)
• Sichuan Airlines (3U)
• Singapore Airlines (SQ)
• SpiceJet (SG)
• Spring Airlines (9C)
• Starlux Airlines (JX)
• Swiss International Air Lines (LX)
• T’way Air (TW)
• Thai AirAsia (FD)
• Thai Airways (TG)
• Thai Lion Air (SL)
• Tibet Airlines (TV)
• Turkish Airlines (TK)
• United Airlines (UA)
• Urumqi Air (UQ)
• VietJet Air (VJ)
• Vietnam Airlines (VN)
• West Air (PN)
• Xiamen Airlines / XiamenAir (MF)

In total, there are 90 passenger airlines operating from Hong Kong Airport. That number excludes airlines without check-in counters or other form of physical presence at Hong Kong Airport but still fly to and from the airport through codeshare agreement.

List of Airlines by Alliance at Hong Kong Airport

Even though Hong Kong Airport is home to Cathay Pacific, which is a member of Oneworld Alliance, the airport is also well positioned as a destination or hub for airlines in other major alliances. There are 16 out of 25 Star Alliance member airlines with operations from Hong Kong Airport. Furthermore, 8 out of 19 SkyTeam member airlines operate out of Hong Kong Airport.

Oneworld member airlines that operate from Hong Kong Airport are listed as follows:

• British Airways (BA)
• Cathay Pacific (CX)
• Fiji Airways (FJ)
• Finnair (AY)
• Japan Airlines (JL)
• Malaysia Airlines (MH)
• Qantas (QF)
• Qatar Airways (QR)
• Royal Jordanian (RJ)

In total, there are 9 out of 15 Oneworld member airlines that operate out of Hong Kong Airport. This figure represents 60% of Oneworld member airlines.

Star Alliance member airlines that operate from Hong Kong Airport are as follows:

• Air Canada (AC)
• Air China (CA)
• Air India (AI)
• Air New Zealand (NZ)
• All Nippon Airways (NH)
• Asiana Airlines (OZ)
• Egypt Air (MS)
• Ethiopian Airlines (ET)
• Eva Air (BR)
• Lufthansa (LH)
• Shenzhen Airlines (ZH)
• Singapore Airlines (SQ)
• Swiss International Air Lines (LX)
• Thai Airways (TG)
• Turkish Airlines (TK)
• United Airlines (UA)

For SkyTeam, the member airlines below operate from Hong Kong Airport:

• Air France (AF)
• China Airlines (CI)
• China Eastern Airlines (MU)
• Garuda Indonesia (GA)
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL)
• Korean Air (KE)
• Vietnam Airlines (VN)
• XiamenAir (MF)

As can be seen from the lists above, only SkyTeam Alliance has less than a half of its member airlines operating from Hong Kong Airport. The other major alliances, which are Oneworld and Star Alliance, each has more than 60% of their member airlines present at Hong Kong Airport. This signifies an important role of Hong Kong Airport as a hub that connects routes globally.

Airline Check-in Counters at Hong Kong Airport

Hong Kong Airport has two passenger terminals, namely Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. However, Terminal 2 is currently not in use due to expansion project that is scheduled to be completed in 2030. Check-in counters at Hong Kong Airport are hence located at Terminal 1, which is in the departure entrance hall on the seventh floor (L7) of the main building.

The check-in area is divided into 11 aisles or sections. Each aisle is assigned a single letter identifier from A to L. Check-in counters are installed in a counter island that separates two different aisles. Counters assigned in the same aisle, which refers to counters with the same letter identifier, are placed on the north and/or south of a counter island. Therefore, a counter island may house counters from two different aisles.

The check-in counter locations at Hong Kong Airport Terminal 1 are shown in more detail in the check-in counter map below.

As you can see in the check-in counter map above, check-in aisles are represented as letters from A to L. There are only 11 aisles assigned as the letter I is not used in the aisle identifier. Check-in counter assignment for each aisle is explained as follows.

Aisle B:

• Cathay Pacific (CX)

Aisle C:

• Cathay Pacific (CX)

Aisle D:

• Air Busan (BX)
• Air Canada (AC)
• Air France (AF)
• Air Mauritius (MK)
• Air Premia (YP)
• Air Seoul (RS)
• Ethiopian Airlines (ET)
• Etihad Airways (EY)
• Greater Bay Airlines (HB)
• IndiGo (6E)
• Jeju Air (7C)
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL)
• Lucky Air (8L)
• Royal Air Philippines (RW)
• Royal Brunei Airlines (BI)
• Spring Airlines (9C)
• Starlux Airlines (JX)
• Turkish Airlines (TK)
• VietJet Air (VJ)
• Vietnam Airlines (VN)

Aisle E:

• Air India (AI)
• Air Niugini (PX)
• All Nippon Airways (NH)
• Asiana Airlines (OZ)
• Bangkok Airways (PG)
• Eva Air (BR)
• Fiji Airways (FJ)
• Jin Air (LJ)
• Malaysia Airlines (MH)
• MIAT Mongolian Airlines (OM)
• Nepal Airlines (RA)
• Qatar Airways (QR)
• Royal Jordanian (RJ)
• S7 Airlines (S7)
• Scoot (TR)

Aisle F:

• China Airlines (CI)
• Jiangxi Air (RY)
• Lufthansa (LH)
• Mandarin Airlines (AE)
• Philippine Airlines (PR)
• Singapore Airlines (SQ)
• SpiceJet (SG)
• Swiss International Air Lines (LX)

Aisle G:

• Air Cambodia (K6)
• Air New Zealand (NZ)
• Batik Air Malaysia (OD)
• Egypt Air (MS)
• Emirates (EK)
• Garuda Indonesia (GA)
• Hebei Airlines (NS)
• Japan Airlines (JL)
• Korean Air (KE)
• Lanmei Airlines (LQ)
• Ruili Airlines (DR)
• Shenzhen Airlines (ZH)
• Thai Lion Air (SL)
• United Airlines (UA)

Aisle H:

• HK Express (UO)
• T’way Air (TW)
• Thai Airways (TG)

Aisle J:

• Air China (CA)
• British Airways (BA)
• China Eastern Airlines (MU)
• China Southern Airlines (CZ)
• Qantas Airways (QF)
• Shandong Airlines (SC)
• Shanghai Airlines (FM)

Aisle K:

• Aeroflot (SU)
• Cambodia Airways (KR)
• Finnair (AY)
• Hainan Airlines (HU)
• Hong Kong Airlines (HX)
• Juneyao Airlines (HO)
• Loong Air (GJ)
• Peach Aviation (MM)
• Qingdao Airlines (QW)
• Sichuan Airlines (3U)
• Urumqi Air (UQ)
• West Air (PN)

Aisle L:

• Air Astana (KC)
• AirAsia (AK)
• AirAsia X (D7)
• Cebu Pacific (5J)
• Eznis Airways (MG)
• Indonesia AirAsia (QZ)
• Philippine AirAsia (Z2)
• Thai AirAsia (FD)
• Tibet Airlines (TV)
• Xiamen Airlines / XiamenAir (MF)

Note that there are no check-in counters in Aisle A. Instead of staffed check-in counters, you will find self check-in kiosks as shown in the picture below.

Check-in Counters at Hong Kong Airport by Airlines

The following table summarizes the location of check-in counters for each passenger airline that operates from Hong Kong Airport.

No	Airline Name	IATA Code	Check-in Aisle	Nearest Entrance
1	Aeroflot	SU	K	Gate 4
2	Air Astana	KC	L	Gate 4
3	Air Busan	BX	D	Gate 2
4	Air Cambodia	K6	G	Gate 3
5	Air Canada	AC	D	Gate 2
6	Air China	CA	J	Gate 4
7	Air France	AF	D	Gate 2
8	Air India	AI	E	Gate 2
9	Air Mauritius	MK	D	Gate 2
10	Air New Zealand	NZ	G	Gate 3
11	Air Niugini	PX	E	Gate 2
12	Air Premia	YP	D	Gate 2
13	Air Seoul	RS	D	Gate 2
14	AirAsia	AK	L	Gate 4
15	AirAsia X	D7	L	Gate 4
16	All Nippon Airways / ANA	NH	E	Gate 2
17	Asiana Airlines	OZ	E	Gate 2
18	Bangkok Airways	PG	E	Gate 2
19	Batik Air Malaysia	OD	G	Gate 3
20	British Airways	BA	J	Gate 4
21	Cambodia Airways	KR	K	Gate 4
22	Cathay Pacific	CX	B, C	Gate 1
23	Cebu Pacific	5J	L	Gate 4
24	China Airlines	CI	F	Gate 3
25	China Eastern Airlines	MU	J	Gate 4
26	China Southern Airlines	CZ	J	Gate 4
27	Egypt Air	MS	G	Gate 3
28	Emirates	EK	G	Gate 3
29	Ethiopian Airlines	ET	D	Gate 2
30	Etihad Airways	EY	D	Gate 2
31	Eva Air	BR	E	Gate 2
32	Eznis Airways	MG	L	Gate 4
33	Fiji Airways	FJ	E	Gate 2
34	Finnair	AY	K	Gate 4
35	Garuda Indonesia	GA	G	Gate 3
36	Greater Bay Airlines	HB	D	Gate 2
37	Hainan Airlines	HU	K	Gate 4
38	Hebei Airlines	NS	G	Gate 3
39	HK Express	UO	H	Gate 3
40	Hong Kong Airlines	HX	K	Gate 4
41	IndiGo	6E	D	Gate 2
42	Indonesia AirAsia	QZ	L	Gate 4
43	Japan Airlines	JL	G	Gate 3
44	Jeju Air	7C	D	Gate 2
45	Jiangxi Air	RY	F	Gate 3
46	Jin Air	LJ	E	Gate 2
47	Juneyao Airlines	HO	K	Gate 4
48	KLM Royal Dutch Airlines	KL	D	Gate 2
49	Korean Air	KE	G	Gate 3
50	Lanmei Airlines	LQ	G	Gate 3
51	Loong Air	GJ	K	Gate 4
52	Lucky Air	8L	D	Gate 2
53	Lufthansa	LH	F	Gate 3
54	Malaysia Airlines	MH	E	Gate 2
55	Mandarin Airlines	AE	F	Gate 3
56	MIAT Mongolian Airlines	OM	E	Gate 2
57	Nepal Airlines	RA	E	Gate 2
58	Peach Aviation	MM	K	Gate 4
59	Philippine Airlines	PR	F	Gate 3
60	Philippine AirAsia	Z2	L	Gate 4
61	Qantas Airways	QF	J	Gate 4
62	Qatar Airways	QR	E	Gate 2
63	Qingdao Airlines	QW	K	Gate 4
64	Royal Air Philippines	RW	D	Gate 2
65	Royal Brunei Airlines	BI	D	Gate 2
66	Royal Jordanian	RJ	E	Gate 2
67	Ruili Airlines	DR	G	Gate 3
68	S7 Airlines	S7	E	Gate 2
69	Scoot	TR	E	Gate 2
70	Shandong Airlines	SC	J	Gate 4
71	Shanghai Airlines	FM	J	Gate 4
72	Shenzhen Airlines	ZH	G	Gate 3
73	Sichuan Airlines	3U	K	Gate 4
74	Singapore Airlines	SQ	F	Gate 3
75	SpiceJet	SG	F	Gate 3
76	Spring Airlines	9C	D	Gate 2
77	Starlux Airlines	JX	D	Gate 2
78	Swiss International Air Lines	LX	F	Gate 3
79	T’way Air	TW	H	Gate 3
80	Thai AirAsia	FD	L	Gate 4
81	Thai Airways	TG	H	Gate 3
82	Thai Lion Air	SL	G	Gate 3
83	Tibet Airlines	TV	L	Gate 4
84	Turkish Airlines	TK	D	Gate 2
85	United Airlines	UA	G	Gate 3
86	Urumqi Air	UQ	K	Gate 4
87	VietJet Air	VJ	D	Gate 2
88	Vietnam Airlines	VN	D	Gate 2
89	West Air	PN	K	Gate 4
90	Xiamen Airlines / XiamenAir	MF	L	Gate 4

Departure Procedures at Hong Kong Airport

After you are done with check in, you can proceed to the security check gate, still on L7. There are two security check areas in the departure entrance hall, which are North and South. The airport authority has invested a lot on automation infrastructure to improve passenger flow at the airport. As an example, the document check at the security screening gate is mostly self-service. You simply put your passport on the document reader and have your face scanned by a camera mounted on the gate to let the system validate your identity and allow you to enter the security check area.

Next, you go through x-ray scan for hand carry items. This procedure is usually handled efficiently through adaptive queue management system that rearranges long queues into shorter ones. Once the security check is done, you proceed to the immigration clearance. This is also usually quick since you can simply use one of the autogates, locally termed as e-Channel, to clear the immigration for departure.

After clearing the immigration, you will walk down one level to L6. Most departure gates are located on this floor. You can read the guide on finding your departure gates at Hong Kong Airport that we have compiled in another article.

While waiting for your departure, you may check out the lounges at Hong Kong Airport. You can also get other ideas about things to do at Hong Kong Airport that we hope to bring more joy to your overall experience at Hong Kong Airport.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)

Q: How many airlines use Hong Kong Airport?
A: As of August 2025, there are 90 passenger airlines with designated check-in counters operating from Hong Kong Airport. The number excludes passenger airlines with codeshare agreement that do not have designated check-in counters at the airport.

Q: Where is the check-in counter for Cathay Pacific at Hong Kong Airport?
A: Cathay Pacific use Aisle B and Aisle C in the check-in area at Hong Kong Airport. The check-in counters in these aisles are staffed. You can also make use of smart kiosks or self check-in kiosks that are stationed in Aisle A.

Q: When is the check-in counter open and closed at Hong Kong Airport?
A: Most check-in counters at Hong Kong Airport open three hours before scheduled flight departure time and close 60 minutes before flight departure.