Airport Express (MTR)

Airport Express
Industry	Rail transport
Founded	July 6, 1998; 28 years ago
Headquarters	Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Area served	Hong Kong
Products	Airport rail link service
Parent	MTR Corporation
Website	www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/services/airport_express_index.html

The Airport Express () is one of the ten rail routes operated within Hong Kong's MTR network, providing a direct connection between the city center and Hong Kong International Airport, as well as the AsiaWorld–Expo exhibition centre.

Serving as the exclusive rail service to the airport, this line runs alongside the Tung Chung line from Hong Kong station until just south of the waterway separating Lantau Island and Chek Lap Kok, where the airport is situated. It then continues onward to the airport itself and concludes at AsiaWorld–Expo station. Meanwhile, the Tung Chung line terminates at Tung Chung new town, with bus links available to various airport terminals.

The trip between Hong Kong station and the airport station lasts approximately 24 minutes. On the MTR map, it is represented in Teal.

History

In October 1989, the Hong Kong government resolved to replace the congested Kai Tak Airport in Kowloon with a new facility located at Chek Lap Kok. The Mass Transit Railway Corporation was tasked with constructing an express rail line to serve this new airport, with project commencement following financial and territorial agreements between China and Britain in November 1994.

The Lantau Airport Railway's design and planning involved consultants such as Arup, Halcrow, Meinhardt, and Hyder Consulting. The undertaking was divided into two MTR lines: the Tung Chung line and the Airport Express, which share track segments in certain areas. The total estimated expenditure was HK$35.1 billion. The Airport Express officially began operations on 6 July 1998, coinciding with the inauguration of Hong Kong International Airport, initially running from Hong Kong station to Airport station within 23 minutes.

With the opening of Sunny Bay station on the Tung Chung line in June 2005, travel time between Airport and Hong Kong stations increased to 24 minutes. Later that year, on 20 December, service extended to AsiaWorld–Expo station, lengthening total journey time to 28 minutes.

Route

Starting at Hong Kong station in Central, the Airport Express travels under Victoria Harbour to reach Kowloon station situated on reclaimed land. It then proceeds along western Kowloon Peninsula before crossing Rambler Channel via a rail bridge to Tsing Yi station. From there, it continues over the Lantau Link alongside North Lantau Highway towards Airport station, finally terminating at AsiaWorld–Expo station.

The line shares tracks with the Tung Chung line only within the cross-harbour tunnel section and along the Lantau Link leading up to the airport island. At every station served by both lines, they operate on separate tracks and platforms.

Features

The Airport Express offers more spacious and comfortable carriages and stations compared to other MTR lines. Each train is equipped with luggage racks adjacent to every door and in-seat speakers that broadcast news, advertisements, and announcements displayed on LCD screens.

In-town check-in

Passengers traveling with Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines, Qantas, or Singapore Airlines have access to in-town check-in services at Hong Kong Station or Kowloon Station (Singapore Airlines only at Hong Kong Station). This facility allows travelers to obtain boarding passes and check their luggage before arriving at the airport, enabling them to move around the city unencumbered by baggage. Each train includes a dedicated baggage car where checked luggage undergoes automated explosive detection screening. Upon reaching the airport, bags are transferred directly onto flights. In-town check-in accommodates a broader selection of airlines at both stations.

At all stations except AsiaWorld–Expo, passengers benefit from baggage trolleys, wide fare gates, and complimentary porter assistance.

Shuttle bus service

The Airport Express Shuttle Bus provides complimentary transfers for passengers holding valid Airport Express tickets or passes, connecting Hong Kong or Kowloon stations to prominent hotels located in the Western District, Quarry Bay on Hong Kong Island, as well as Yau Tsim Mong District and Hung Hom station in Kowloon.

This shuttle service was suspended on 30 June 2020 due to a decline in ridership amid the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed operations by July 2024 with a scaled-back route network covering key hotels in both Hong Kong and Kowloon.

On-board WiFi and charging service

All Airport Express trains are equipped with WiFi connectivity, and the first and last cars feature USB ports alongside power sockets for passenger convenience.

Graphic identity

The visual branding of Airport Express—including its logo, train exterior design, signage, route maps, and passenger information materials—was crafted in 1999 by the British design firm Lloyd Northover, established by John Lloyd and Jim Northover.

Fare structure

Airport Express fares operate on a distinct pricing system and are considerably higher than those of the standard MTR lines. One-way or same-day return tickets from Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Tsing Yi stations to the Airport are priced at HK$130, HK$115, and HK$80 respectively; 30-day return passes cost HK$215, HK$195, and HK$130. Tickets can be purchased at all MTR stations or via online platforms. Although there are no entry barriers at Airport station, travelers must buy tickets from vending machines located in the Arrivals Hall or on platforms before boarding.

Various discounts are available, including group rates for parties of two to four individuals, loyalty programs such as Asia Miles, complimentary taxi connections, and special fare arrangements for airport employees to encourage use of the Airport Express. Octopus card holders receive discounted same-day return fares when spending at least one hour at AsiaWorld–Expo: fares reduce to HK$85, HK$78, and HK$53 from Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Tsing Yi respectively; these rates also include free transfers within the MTR network. A single journey from the Airport to AsiaWorld–Expo costs HK$6.5.

Since Airport Express employs a separate fare system, passengers transferring between it and other MTR lines at shared stations must exit and re-enter through fare gates. Nevertheless, Octopus card users benefit from free transfers if they connect within one hour after arriving at an Airport Express station.

In March 2010, magnetic stripe tickets were phased out in favor of "smart tickets" containing memory chips; this transition was fully completed by June 2010.

Due to relatively high ticket prices and limited service coverage areas, some travelers prefer using the more economical Tung Chung line combined with bus services. The overlapping routes have led to some diversion of ridership from Airport Express to Tung Chung line services.

Morning Express Service

The Morning Express Service offers a discounted fare of HK$25 for weekday passengers traveling from Tsing Yi and Kowloon stations to Hong Kong station between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM (excluding Sundays and public holidays), catering primarily to regular commuters.

Operation and stations

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Airport Express services departed every 10 minutes starting early morning (05:54 from Airport, 05:50 from Hong Kong) and shifted to a 12-minute interval late at night until the final train at 00:48. Following the pandemic, as passenger numbers gradually recovered, frequency was reduced to every 30 minutes, later improving to intervals of 15–20 minutes beginning 5 November 2022. By 30 July 2024, service frequency had returned to pre-pandemic levels, although the precise date of full restoration remains unspecified.

The Airport Express line is managed centrally through the Operations Control Centre located in Tsing Yi, which also oversees other MTR lines.

Rolling stock

The rolling stock consists of 11 trains manufactured by CAF, initially configured with seven cars each. In response to rising demand from AsiaWorld-Expo station, train length was extended to eight cars in 2003. These trains can be further lengthened to ten cars if necessary and are capable of speeds up to .

Interior enhancements were undertaken in 2008, including new seat upholstery and carpeting. A subsequent refurbishment in 2020 introduced redesigned seats adorned with blue and aquamarine AEL logos and synthetic leather headrests, aimed at elevating passenger comfort.

Stations

Below is an overview of the stations served by the Airport Express line.

Station List

Livery	Station Name		Images	Interchange; Nearby transport connections	Opening Date	District
Livery	English	Chinese	Images	Interchange; Nearby transport connections	Opening Date	District
Airport Express Line (AEL)
	Template:STN	香港		Template:Rcb Template:Rcb (Template:STN) Template:Rcb (Central)	6 July 1998; 28 years ago	Central and Western
	Template:STN	九龍		Template:Rcb Template:Rcb (Template:STN) Template:Stnlnk: Template:Ric Template:Rint High-speed rail services to Mainland China		Yau Tsim Mong
	Template:STN	青衣		Template:Rcb		Kwai Tsing
	Template:STN	機場		Template:Rint Hong Kong International Airport		Islands
	Template:STN	博覽館		—	20 December 2005; 20 years ago	Islands

Use in media

In late 1998, the Airport Express line appeared in the music video for "Happy 2000," performed by Leon Lai, highlighting the interior of the A-Train.

The film Shock Wave 2 features a scene where an Airport Express CAF train is commandeered and driven toward Hong Kong International Airport after being rigged with explosives.

Design constraints

In the 1990s, when planning the Airport Railway (comprising the Tung Chung line and Airport Express), financial limitations influenced by the upcoming handover to China necessitated budget cuts that imposed restrictions on the design and service capabilities:

The initial plan called for four tracks—two dedicated to the Airport Express and two for the Tung Chung line—but this was scaled back to just two shared tracks, increasing susceptibility to disruptions caused by signalling malfunctions.
The Lantau Link segment, which includes the Tsing Ma Bridge, Ma Wan Viaduct, and Kap Shui Mun Bridge, allows only a single train per direction at any given time, establishing a minimum interval of 2 minutes and 15 seconds between trains.
Due to signalling system limitations, Airport Express trains cannot be given priority, causing Tung Chung line trains that stop at Sunny Bay station to frequently delay the faster Airport Express services.
Between Kowloon and Lai King station, power supply restrictions limit concurrent train operations to one Airport Express and two Tung Chung line trains, resulting in a minimum headway of 3 minutes and 30 seconds.

External links