Hong Kong Airport Services
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Ground handling services |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Founder | Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon (joint venture) |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong , Hong Kong |
Area served | Hong Kong International Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao Airport |
| Products | Aircraft loading and unloading, baggage handling, cargo and mail delivery, ramp coordination, aircraft load control, jet bridge and passenger stairs operation, unit load device storage, crew transportation, passenger check-in, ticketing, flight dispatch, cargo documentation |
| Owner | Cathay Pacific |
Number of employees | 3,100 |
| Parent | Cathay Pacific |
Hong Kong Airport Services Limited (HAS by Cathay), established in 1995, commenced its operations in July 1998 coinciding with the launch of Hong Kong International Airport. With a workforce of approximately 3,100 employees and a fleet of 3,000 ground-support machines and vehicles, HAS operates as a subsidiary of Cathay Pacific. Its offices are located at Cathay City, Cathay House, the Passenger Terminal Building, and the Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal.
The firm provides an extensive range of ground handling solutions, encompassing aircraft loading and unloading, baggage handling, delivery of cargo and mail, ramp coordination, aircraft load control, operation of jet bridges and passenger stairs, storage of unit load devices, as well as crew transportation services.
Additionally, HAS oversees passenger and flight-related services such as check-in, ticketing, flight dispatch, and cargo documentation. It supports 19 airlines for passenger-related services and 24 airlines for ramp and cargo operations, including the prominent local carrier Cathay Pacific Airways. In 2016, HAS controlled 19.73% of the passenger handling market share and 46.94% in ramp handling at Hong Kong International Airport. The company is also a participant in the International Air Transport Association ground handling council.
Initial Phase: 1995–2000
Founded as a joint venture between Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon in 1995, Hong Kong Airport Services was created to provide ramp and cargo services at the newly developed Hong Kong International Airport located at Chek Lap Kok.
This enterprise succeeded Hong Kong Air Terminal Services—a joint venture between Jardine Matheson and Swire Pacific that had operated from Kai Tak International Airport since 1961. HAS obtained franchise rights for aircraft ramp handling in 1996 and for airside crew transportation in 1997. Operations at the new airport began in 1998. With all franchise rights transferred, Hong Kong Air Terminal Services discontinued its activities following the closure of Kai Tak Airport and was officially dissolved in 2009.
Growth and International Expansion
On November 1, 2008, HAS merged its operations with Dragonair's ground handling division, Hong Kong International Airport Services, after Cathay Pacific completed its acquisition of Dragon Air.
By December 1, 2008, Cathay Pacific had acquired full ownership of Hong Kong Airport Services, turning it into a wholly owned subsidiary. Since then, employees of HAS have represented Cathay Dragon in ground handling functions.
In March 2012, Hong Kong Airport Services established a joint venture named Shanghai International Airport Services Company alongside Shanghai International Airport Company Limited, Air China, and Shanghai Airport Services to deliver ground services at Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao Airports.
Towards the end of 2018, the company further consolidated with Cathay Pacific ground services operations and now serves exclusively as Cathay Pacific’s representative in this sector.