Airport Authority plans to turn Hong Kong’s 11 Skies into tourism hub
Hong Kong’s Airport Authority will take over the 11 Skies project from developer New World Development next April and reshape it as part of Airport City. Transport Secretary Mable Chan says the authority aims for a high-end aviation, retail, cultural and leisure landmark while limiting direct public investment.
Hong Kong’s Airport Authority plans to reposition the 11 Skies commercial development as a high-end tourism landmark after taking over the project from New World Development next April. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said the authority and the debt-ridden developer had reached agreement on commercial and contractual principles. The handover will include an entertainment complex and three office towers, while New World will provide more than HK$3bn in cash or equivalents.
Chan said the authority would align 11 Skies with its wider Airport City development. The plan is intended to make the project a destination for luxury retail, arts and culture, tourism, water sports and aviation-related activities. A dedicated team will review the original plans for offices, shops and restaurants and add more experiences for passengers, particularly those in transit.
The authority has said it wants the entertainment hub to open in the 2028-29 financial year. Chan linked the project to the expected opening of Airport Terminal 2 at the end of 2027 and the completion of AsiaWorld-Expo Phase 2 in 2028. The development is also expected to connect with autonomous vehicles through a proposed “SkyCity Corridor” linking the airport area and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.
Chan said the aim was to allow international travellers to experience business, entertainment, dining and tourism without leaving the airport district. The authority plans to invite expressions of interest next year for an art storage facility and a marina bay within Airport City. Chan said the government would oversee the broader development while requiring careful commercial estimates and minimum direct investment by the authority.
The original HK$20bn 11 Skies project was designed to complement the proposed HK$100bn Skytopia development around Hong Kong International Airport. Its original plans included three Grade A office towers covering 52,955 square metres and about 247,000 square metres of retail and dining space.
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