The Hong Kong Airport Authority recently announced that Hong Kong International Airport has been awarded the title of "World's Best Airport" for its outstanding performance in airport security procedures, aviation infrastructure, passenger services, and continuously optimized passenger facilities. The Hong Kong International Airport, which was completed and opened in 1998, has undergone multiple expansions and upgrades in the past 30 years. With the unique advantages of "relying on the motherland and facing the world" and the integrated development of the Greater Bay Area, its hardware is more "hardcore", services are better, and its strength and charm continue to grow. Actively utilizing technological innovation, Hong Kong International Airport stood out from many airports around the world in the recently released Global Travel Awards 2026 and was awarded the title of "World's Best Airport". This award is voted upon by millions of travelers worldwide. At the same time, Hong Kong International Airport was selected as the "Best Airport in China" for the third consecutive year at the 2026 TTG China Tourism Awards; In the Skytrax 2026 Global Airport Awards, Hong Kong International Airport also won awards such as "World's Best Airport Security Check Process". The Hong Kong Airport Authority stated that these awards confirm Hong Kong International Airport's commitment to maintaining rigorous security standards, actively utilizing innovative technology, and providing passengers with an efficient and smooth airport experience. Hong Kong International Airport has fully applied facial recognition technology at security gates, immigration channels, and boarding gates, and is upgrading security inspection channels in all areas to replace traditional X-ray inspection systems with computer tomography technology. Passengers are allowed to keep electronic devices and liquids in their carry on luggage, greatly improving security inspection efficiency. The Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Airport Authority, Carrie Lam, stated that she is honored to have been awarded the title of Best Airport in various fields, which demonstrates the efforts and contributions of the Hong Kong International Airport industry. The authorities will continue to expand their passenger and freight route networks, further consolidating Hong Kong's position as a leading hub in Asia. The gradual formation of the "airport city" is the reason why Hong Kong International Airport has won numerous awards, which cannot be separated from a series of milestone infrastructure projects and service upgrades in recent years. Especially with the implementation of the three runway system, this long renowned airport has undergone a transformation and entered a new era of "airport city". The three runway system, which will be officially put into operation in November 2024, costs approximately HKD 141.5 billion and is one of the most expensive infrastructure projects in Hong Kong since its opening. The system has increased the overall capacity of the airport by 50%, enabling it to handle 120 million passengers and 10 million tons of cargo annually. This not only further enhances Hong Kong's position as the world's top air cargo hub for over a decade, but also provides solid physical support for connecting over 200 global destinations. As the supporting core of the three runway system, the expanded Terminal 2 will be put into use in stages starting from September 2025. The increasing passenger flow and the newly vacated space have provided conditions for the airport to create new supporting facilities, and the "airport city" integrating retail, entertainment, business, and art is gradually taking shape. Among them, the retail and catering complex "11 SKIES" has been gradually opened since the second half of 2025, and in the future, a yacht harbor and a fresh food market will be built, transforming the airport from a simple transportation node to a destination. Crossing the Bay Area and Connecting the World "allows you to wait at your doorstep and directly reach Hong Kong Airport, which is so convenient! ”In January of this year, when the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Airport City Terminal was held at the Shengjing Station in Zhongshan East District of the Yongdong Direct Bus, Mr. Tang, a resident of Zhongshan, said this. With the completion of multiple large-scale cross-border infrastructure projects such as the Guangzhou Shenzhen Hong Kong high-speed railway and the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge, Hong Kong International Airport has established a close and multi-dimensional sea, land, and air intermodal network in the Greater Bay Area. Among them, setting up terminal buildings in the core cities of the Greater Bay Area is one of the unique initiatives. Hong Kong International Airport has set up more than 30 distinctive city terminals in Zhuhai, Huizhou, Guangzhou and other places. For example, the Zhongshan City Terminal operates 23 flights per day and utilizes the Shenzhen Zhongshan Expressway to create a "one hour living circle" between Zhongshan and Hong Kong airports; The JEN Hotel City Terminal in Qianhai is the first high-end city terminal in the Greater Bay Area, providing "one-stop" services such as self-service check-in and luggage check-in, as well as tax refund discounts for departure. In terms of cargo transportation, in order to consolidate its leading position in global air cargo transportation, Hong Kong International Airport has adopted a multimodal transport model, expanded its cargo hinterland, and established the world's first multimodal cargo transport project directly to the airport restricted area in Dongguan - "Hong Kong International Airport Dongguan Airport Center". Mainland goods can be inspected and received in Dongguan, and can be transported directly to the restricted area of Hong Kong airport via waterway. This mode not only reduces the cost of enterprises, but also promotes the "soft connection" of trade logistics rules between the two regions. The Hong Kong International Airport, constantly striving for innovation, is writing a new chapter of "crossing the Bay Area and connecting the world". As the Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Paul Chan, has said, Hong Kong International Airport will "work together with other sister cities in the Greater Bay Area to develop the Bay Area airport cluster and embrace a brighter future together. (New Society)