Originally Posted by
fallinasleep
If CX were paying for the third runway, then by all means let them fight it out with the environmentalists and see who wins, but the HK taxpayer is in all likelihood going to shell out HK$200bn if this project is ever completed. I don't believe any of these preliminary budgets/estimates, and I don't see why the taxpayer should subsidize another runway.
That's a hell of a lot of money. The government has no credibility at all so I welcome the left wingers protecting the piggy bank. I need to be convinced that this is not another transfer of wealth from the shrinking middle class to big business.
There are perfectly good airports in Zhuhai, Macau and Shenzhen. Sure, CX can't make it one of their hubs, but Air China probably could, and we all know that Air China will take over CX one day anyway... Then there is also the question of how high speed rail will make many of the short haul flights obsolete which will free up slots...and how air space is already tightly controlled into and out HKG for flights going through the mainland
First of all, CX is not paying for the expansion, the pax does. Sadly, there will be an extra $100 HKD for all pax in terms of "airport construction tax (don't know the exact term, just a literal translation from 機場建設稅)"
secondly, CA is not going to take over CX, CA holds 29.99% of Cathay, just 0.01% short of the share required for madatory takeover bid, while at the same time Swire holds 42% of Cathay, in case of hostile takeover, the difficulty faced by swire to fight off CA is not a big concern to Swire, if any.
Thirdly, you can say SZX's a good airport, but i don't think Zhuhai and Macau is in the same league with Guangzhou and Shenzhen, not to mention competing with HKIA for international connections.
Fourthly, I would say, the High-speed rail link is not needed, as the demand for trains connecting HK and Guangzhou is not filled and not even expected to be filled within this decade or two. However, the case in airport is different, the capacity is expected to be filled within 7 to 9 years, so it's crucial to plan ahead, that means expansion.