Hong Kong Airport Services


Hong Kong Airport Services Limited was founded in 1995 and began operations in July 1998 with the opening of Chek Lap Kok International Airport. It now employs 3,100 people and owns a fleet of over 3,000 ground-support equipment and vehicles. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific. HAS offices are located at Cathay City, Cathay Dragon House, Passenger Terminal Building and Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal.
HAS provides ground handling services to airline customers. These include loading and unloading of aircraft, baggage handling, cargo and mail delivery, ramp coordination, aircraft-load control, aerobridge and passenger steps operation, Unit Load Device storage and crew transportation.
The company also provides passenger and flight-handling services such as passenger check-in, ticketing, flight dispatch, and cargo documentation. HAS provides passenger handling for 19 airlines, and ramp and cargo services for 24 airlines. It services major local carriers Cathay Pacific Airways and Cathay Dragon. In 2016, the company had a market share of 19.73% in passenger handling services and 46.94% in ramp handling services at Hong Kong International Airport. HAS is a member of the IATA Ground Handling Council.

History

Early beginning: 1995–2000

In 1995, the Hong Kong Airport Services is founded as a joint venture between Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, to serve then newly built Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok, and provide ramp and cargo services to airlines operating in the Hong Kong. In 1996, HAS won the franchise rights for Aircraft Ramp Handling Services and airside crew transportation services later in 1997. In 1998, HAS commenced services in the new Hong Kong International Airport.

Development and overseas expansion

In 1 November 2008, HAS integrated services with Dragonair's ground handling company Hong Kong International Airport Services, soon after Cathay Pacific fully acquiring Dragonair. On 1 December 2008, Cathay Pacific, now the parent company of HAS agreed to take the remaining stake of HAS, and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific. Since the acquisation of HAS, employees of HAS represented Cathay Dragon for the ground handling part. In March 2012, HAS established a joint venture company Shanghai International Airport Services Company with Shanghai International Airport Company Limited, Air China, and Shanghai Airport Services to provide services in both Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao Airport. In late 2018, the company integrated services with Cathay Pacific ground services and are now representing Cathay Pacific in ground services.