Recap | The history of Hong Kong’s iconic airport Kai Tak and its dramatic landings

The history of Hong Kong’s legendary Kai Tak Airport, famous for its challenging landings and thrilling flight path low over the Kowloon skyline is captivating. From its opening in 1958 to its closure in 1998, here are five stories that dive into Kai Tek’s lasting impact on the city and its residents.

1. Remembering Kai Tak, Hong Kong’s legendary airport that closed in 1998

When Kai Tak Airport closed after 73 years of operation it had become an icon of the city and a civic treasure renowned worldwide for its challenging landings. Learn the airport’s history, its impact on the residents of Kowloon living directly under its approach path, and the unforgettable experiences of passengers and pilots.

2. Dramatic landings, nostalgic memories and, of course, the smell of Kai Tak Airport, remembered

Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport was renowned for its thrilling landings and its dramatic approaches over Kowloon. But it was also a place where local kids gathered to do their homework thanks to the ever-present air con, and one which greeted air travellers with a rather distinctive smell.

3. Reporting Kai Tak’s first ‘direct’ flight from London in 1936 … a journey of 11 days

Read about the first ‘direct’ flight from Hong Kong to London as reported by the South China Morning Post. The pioneering air service was not quite as direct as modern airlines would envisage the term as the flight took an epic 11 days, with stops in exotic locations such as Penang, Saigon, and Cairo.