Available to World Legend, World Elite and World Mastercard cardholders travelling through Hong Kong, the benefit can be accessed regardless of where their card was issued. 

Located in Terminal 1 near Gate 40, Mastercard’s Taste by Priceless is designed for travellers seeking distinctive dining experiences. Blending culinary storytelling, local chef-led programming and immersive design, Taste by Priceless is offered as part of The Mastercard Collection, Mastercard’s globally connected portfolio of exceptional dining, entertainment and travel benefits. Through The Mastercard Collection, eligible cardholders can access premium experiences throughout their journey.

Taste by Priceless in Hong Kong features seasonal menus co-created with acclaimed chefs, blending Asian and Western cuisine with celebrated local culinary heritage. It offers distinct dining experiences, designed to accommodate travellers’ preferences and schedules:  

The Counter — An intimate, chef-led tasting featuring a multi-course menu with dishes such as Shiso & Romaine Salad and Superior Chicken Soup 

The Cove — A relaxed à la carte setting offering refined tapas-style dishes including Pil Pil Prawns and Miso Glazed Cauliflower 

The dining experience is complemented by a selection of Mastercard’s signature desserts and cocktails, created exclusively for Taste by Priceless venues around the world. 

Located at one of the world’s leading international aviation hubs, this Taste by Priceless opening reinforces Mastercard’s strategy of meeting premium travellers where global journeys converge. For example, a Mastercard cardholder from London can enjoy an elevated meal at the Taste by Priceless dining club in Hong Kong International Airport before their return flight home. 

World Legend cardholders enjoy unlimited complimentary access for themselves and up to three guests, while World Elite and World cardholders may access Taste by Priceless at a preferential rate. Once admitted, guests can enjoy the full Taste by Priceless experience, including chef-curated dining, signature desserts and beverages, all included in their visit. Eligible cardholders can access the dining club within three hours of departure, with no prior reservation required. 

Beyond dining, the venue has been designed as an immersive, multi-sensory space that blends Mastercard’s brand heritage with local cultural influences. At its heart is a commissioned installation by emerging Chinese artist Xinran Guan, whose oil paintings explore harmony between the material and immaterial. 

The launch of Taste by Priceless in Hong Kong expands Mastercard’s growing portfolio of elevated airport dining experiences for cardholders, joining Taste by Priceless at Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) in São Paulo and a new location slated to open in Mexico City later this year. Beyond the airport, cardholders can also enjoy exceptional dining experiences through Mastercard’s broader Priceless portfolio, including LUMA at Hong Kong’s historic 1881 Heritage and Priceless restaurants in Rome, Mexico City and São Paulo. 

(Source: Mastercard)

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The launch of “Park & Visit” follows the expansion of the Southbound Travel Scheme to all nine Mainland GBA cities. The newly added Mainland cities are Shenzhen, Dongguan, Huizhou, Foshan and Zhaoqing, joining Guangzhou, Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Jiangmen.

Applications for “Park & Visit” opened on 16 July for eligible vehicles from the nine Mainland GBA cities and Macao. Successful applicants may drive via the HZMB to the automated car park operated by Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) in the restricted area on the Hong Kong Port Island. 

The visitors may then leave their vehicles with the automated parking system, take a shuttle to the Passenger Clearance Building of the Hong Kong Port to complete immigration procedures, and continue their journeys across Hong Kong by public transport. On their return, visitors will retrieve their vehicles after completing departure clearance at the Hong Kong Port and drive back via the HZMB.

A welcome event was led by Mable Chan, Secretary for Transport and Logistics; Winnie Tse, Commissioner of Transport; and Steven Yiu, Executive Director, Airport Operations of AAHK, who greeted the first “Park & Visit” users from Guangzhou on 16 July.

Chan said: “We thank AAHK for its continued support for ‘Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles’. The launch of ‘Park & Fly’ at the end of last year marked the first step in this initiative, connecting two world-class infrastructure projects — the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Hong Kong International Airport. Today’s launch of ‘Park & Visit’ marks another milestone. Eligible private car owners from Guangdong and Macao, who have booked and confirmed a parking space, can park their vehicles at the fully automated car park at the Hong Kong Port and enjoy an impromptu trip to Hong Kong. Today is also the first day of the expanded arrangements for visitors from more cities to drive into Hong Kong’s urban area, with the daily quota for pre-booked trips doubled to 200 vehicles. I encourage visitors to make use of the park-and-ride arrangement when travelling into the urban areas and explore the charms of Hong Kong’s districts through our world-class public transport system.”

Yiu said, “‘Park & Visit’ provides a convenient option for visitors to leave their vehicles at our fully automated car park at the Hong Kong Port and then visit different attractions on Lantau Island by public transport. We are working with business partners on Lantau and other supporting organisations to offer discounts and other privileges, with a view to attracting more visitors to Hong Kong and injecting added momentum into tourism.”

Meanwhile, HKIA’s “Park & Fly” service, launched in November last year, has also been extended to cover the entire GBA. Eligible passengers from the nine Mainland GBA cities can now drive via the HZMB to the automated car park and fly from HKIA to global destinations without having to go via Hong Kong immigration procedures. Applying advanced technology to ensure efficiency and security, the automated car park developed and operated by AAHK for “Park & Fly” and “Park & Visit” is Hong Kong’s first fully automated parking service.

(Source: HKIA)

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Cargo volume increased to 435,000 tonnes with a 3.0% year-on-year growth during the month.

Overall passenger growth in May was supported by a double-digit increase in transfer / transit passengers, followed by visitors. During the Chinese Mainland’s Labour Day “Golden Week” holiday, daily passengers peaked at 204,000 on 1 May. By region, most markets expanded in May, with growth led by the Mainland, Japan and Southeast Asia.

Overall cargo growth was primarily driven by transhipment, followed by imports, which recorded year‑on‑year increases of 23.2% and 1.2%, respectively. By region, cargo performance was mixed, with growth in the Mainland and Southeast Asia offsetting declines in markets such as India. Notably, the Middle East saw modest growth in May, marking its first expansion since the outbreak of the conflicts in March.

HKIA’s global network has further expanded, with Delta Air Lines returning to HKIA with new services between Hong Kong and Los Angeles, offering seven pairs of flights per week from 8 June, strengthening HKIA’s connectivity with North America. Sun PhuQuoc Airways also launched new services to Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam, while Hong Kong Airlines launched a new route to Lanzhou in May.

For the first five months of the year, passenger volume rose by 12.5% year on year to 27.7 million, while flight movements increased by 4.8% year on year to 168,745. Cargo throughput recorded a 3.6% increase to 2.06 million tonnes compared to the same period of last year.

On a 12-month rolling basis, HKIA handled 64.0 million passengers and 402,415 flight movements, experiencing year-on-year increases of 13.0% and 6.1% respectively. Cargo volume grew by 3.0% year on year to 5.14 million tonnes.

(Source: HKIA)

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The launch follows the confirmation of services linking WSI to Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, connecting some of Australia’s most popular holiday destinations to a brand-new 24-hour international airport.

While the initial flight schedule is modest, ATIA says the significance of what WSI represents to the broader travel network is substantial.

From 25 October 2026, Jetstar will operate up to 14 flights a week between WSI and Melbourne, four weekly flights to the Gold Coast, and three weekly flights to Brisbane. From 28 March 2027, Qantas will add four weekly services to both Brisbane and Melbourne, operated by QantasLink Embraer E190 aircraft.

For travel agents and tour operators across the country, the arrival of a new gateway into Greater Sydney opens genuine new options for building domestic itineraries and packages, particularly for the fast-growing Western Sydney catchment area. More flights mean more options for travellers, and more opportunities for travel businesses to serve a broader range of customers.

WSI will also become a significant freight hub, with the airport’s integrated 24-hour Cargo Precinct opening on 26 July 2026 and Qantas Freight among the first operators to fly from the facility.

ATIA CEO Dean Long commented: “This is exciting news for Australian travellers and for the travel industry. Yes, it is a small number of flights to start with, but they connect to some genuine holiday hot spots and mark the beginning of what WSI will grow into.

“More flights always mean more options for travellers, and more options mean more business for the travel agents and tour operators who are there to help Australians plan their trips.

“Western Sydney International is a transformative addition to Australia’s travel landscape. It gives millions of people in western Sydney direct access to the network for the first time, and it gives the whole country a new gateway. We look forward to watching this airport grow and to the increased connectivity it will bring for Australian travellers.”

Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) is located 41 km west of Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) and 44 km from downtown Sydney.  

Designated a 24-hour airport, in contrast to Kingsford Smith, which has a nighttime curfew for landings and take-offs, WSI will open for commercial passenger flights on 25 October, with a single 3.7 km-long runway and a terminal building capable of handling 10 million passengers annually. That compares with 41 million passengers that move through Kingsford Smith (SYD).

Singapore Airlines will serve WSI from its Singapore home base starting daily flights effective 23 November 2026.

(Source: ATIA)

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Hong Kong Airlines is the first airline to relocate its check-in counters from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2. The departure process in T2 ran smoothly on its first day of operation, with 36 flights departing from around 0800. Relocation of the other 14 airlines’ check-in services will continue in batches until 10 June.

T2 is served by a full suite of public transport options: Airport Express, airport buses and taxis. Car Park 3, providing over 1,000 spaces, is seamlessly connected to T2.   

A wide range of retail shops and a food court have also opened at T2, offering diverse dining and shopping options. Four dining outlets in the food court and a convenience store will operate around the clock.

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), Chief Executive Officer Vivian Cheung said: “Positioned to serve leisure travel and mainly regional short-haul flights, T2 is seamlessly connected to and complements T1, which mainly focuses on long-haul and transfer/ transit services. Together, the two terminals strengthen HKIA’s capacity to meet growing passenger demand while enhancing passenger experience.”

Passengers departing from T2 complete check-in and bag drop using new smart self-service counters before proceeding to the centre of the departures hall and entering the restricted area through security gates embedded with facial recognition technology. They then undergo security screening at the smart security screening channels and complete immigration clearance procedures before taking the Automated People Mover (APM) to T1 for boarding.

In the next phase, T2 passengers will be using the boarding gates in the new T2 Concourse (T2C) for both departures and arrivals. T2C is expected to start operation before the end of next year, in line with traffic demand.

(Source: HKIA).

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Fifteen airlines relocated their check-in services to T2 on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, when T2’s departure facilities were activated.

AAHK Chairman Fred Lam remarked at the event: “The opening of T2 is another milestone of HKIA’s development. Positioned as a terminal for leisure travel, T2’s design prioritises efficiency and passenger comfort. We attend to every detail, leveraging technology extensively to enable efficient self-check-in, self-bag drop and smooth immigration clearance. We believe T2 would be popular among passengers, in particular young travellers.”

Spanning 300,000 sqm, T2 is designed to serve both departing and arriving passengers. On 27 May, the departure facilities will be commissioned, with the arrival facilities expected to commence operations next year, in line with traffic demand. 

The departures hall of T2 features eight check-in aisles, P to W, with 68 express self-bag-drop counters, 58 smart check-in kiosks, and 108 hybrid check-in counters. All self-bag-drop counters and hybrid counters feature an ultra-low platform design, allowing passengers to place their bags on the conveyor belt with ease. The 20 e-Security Gates at the entrances to the restricted area are all embedded with facial recognition technology. In tandem with T2 opening on 27 May, the minimum age for using facial recognition at e-Security Gates will be lowered from 11 to 7 in both Terminal 1 and T2.

Inside the restricted area, all 15 smart security screening channels at T2 allow passengers to keep their laptops and bottled liquids under 100ml in their carry-on luggage while undergoing screening. The Immigration Department has set up 35 e-Channels and 60 counters for departing passengers.

Large LED displays of different shapes and sizes are installed at different levels of T2, with 3D contents and ocean-themed videos creating a vibrant atmosphere. The food court at the departures hall serves passengers with eight catering outlets, four of which operate around the clock. At the same time, 12 shops offer a variety of products, including travel necessities and souvenirs.

The opening ceremony at T2 was held alongside the HKIA Reception 2026, where AAHK and 40 business partners, including airlines, cargo terminals, and ground handling agents, showcased their latest developments and innovations across various experience zones and booths. After the opening ceremony and reception on 23 and 24 May, the experience zones and booths will be transformed into the HKIA Expo & Career Fair 2026, featuring more than 4,400 job vacancies at the airport.

(Source: HKIA)

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Cargo volume increased to 423,000 tonnes with a 4.9% year-on-year growth during the month.

Overall passenger growth in April was supported by the Easter holiday, with daily passenger traffic peaking on 3 April at over 210,000 passengers. By passenger segment, transfer/transit passengers continued to lead in growth, followed by visitors entering the territory. 

By region, most markets expanded in April, led by the Chinese Mainland and Southeast Asia, while the Middle East was the only region to contract amid ongoing conflicts.

Overall cargo growth was mainly driven by transhipment, followed by imports, which recorded year‑on‑year increases of 20.2% and 6.5%, respectively, as the decline in exports narrowed to 0.3% year-on-year. By region, cargo performance was mixed. Growth in Europe and Southeast Asia continued to offset declines in markets such as North America and the Middle East.

For the first four months of the year, passenger volume rose by 13.0% year on year to 22.3 million, while flight movements increased by 5.1% year on year to 135,090. Cargo throughput recorded a 3.7% increase to 1.63 million tonnes compared to the same period of last year. 

On a 12-month rolling basis, HKIA handled 63.54 million passengers and 401,240 flight movements, experiencing year-on-year increases of 13.7% and 6.6% respectively. Cargo volume grew by 2.9% year on year to 5.12 million tonnes.

In the Airports Council International’s (ACI) Green Airports Recognition 2026, HKIA’s “HKIA Flood Resilience Studies” project clinched the Platinum Award in the category of over 40 million passengers per annum.

Organised by ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, the Green Airports Recognition aims to promote the best environmental practices to minimise aviation’s environmental impact. The theme of this year’s award is “Climate Change Adaptation”, recognising airports for their outstanding performance in adapting to climate change.

(Source: HKIA)

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Based on over 700,000 member ratings and reviews, the Escape Lounge at Portland International Airport was named Global Lounge of the Year. 

Regional Lounge of the Year winners included Lounge Fukuoka in Japan (APAC), Vienna Lounge in Austria (Europe), Club Kingston in Jamaica (Latin America and the Caribbean), and Bidvest Premier Lounge in Johannesburg, South Africa (Middle East and Africa).

The Lounge of the Year award celebrates the highest-rated lounges across the global Priority Pass network, as rated by Priority Pass members. Member ratings and reviews across a range of criteria are assessed, including the quality of facilities, the standard of customer service, the food and beverage selection, comfort, ambience, and overall member satisfaction.

Overall Global Winner: Escape Lounges, Portland International Airport, US

Blending contemporary design with a strong sense of local identity, the Escape Lounge at Portland International Airport stood out for delivering an experience that feels distinctly rooted in its surroundings. Set within one of North America’s most design-led airport environments, the lounge reflects a broader shift towards more thoughtful, place-driven experiences that resonate with travellers.

Regional Winner (APAC): Lounge Fukuoka, Fukuoka International Airport, Japan

In APAC, Lounge of the Year was awarded to Lounge Fukuoka at Fukuoka International Airport, in recognition of delivering an elevated experience that makes the lounge a destination in its own right. Designed with a bright and open layout, the space offers close-up views of the runway and parked aircraft, complemented by a serene, wood-toned aesthetic that promotes comfort and relaxation. This is enhanced by authentic dining experiences featuring local specialities such as Tonkotsu Ramen and Kashiwa Rice, alongside seasonal local sake and Costa Coffee, thereby celebrating the region’s distinct culinary identity. 

APAC winners 

Winner: Lounge Fukuoka – Japan

Highly Commended: Kyra Lounge (near Gate 23) – Hong Kong 

One to watch 

New for 2026, the One to Watch category shines a spotlight on the lounges that have significantly raised their game over the past 12 months, as reflected in Priority Pass member ratings and reviews. These standout spaces show a clear, ongoing commitment to enhancing the overall experience and quickly establishing themselves as future leaders within the category. In APAC, the refreshed KoCoo Lounge at Tokyo Narita International Airport was crowned One to Watch. 

This year’s awards reflect a clear shift in what defines excellence in the airport experience. In 2026, travellers are placing greater value on experiences that feel genuinely considered rather than simply convenient. 

“Now in its 18th year, the Priority Pass Excellence Awards continue to showcase the very best of our global network, and each year, our partners raise the bar even higher,” said Collinson International CEO Christopher Evans. “With demand for premium travel experiences at an all-time high, travellers are increasingly looking to make every moment of their journey more meaningful and memorable. Travellers today expect versatility, quality, and genuine local experience, and our partners are delivering on all three. The Lounge of the Year and One to Watch categories recognise the partners who consistently go above and beyond to deliver exceptional moments that truly enhance the journey for our members.”

(Source: Priority Pass)

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Sun Group, one of Vietnam’s largest private conglomerates, has partnered with SITA to lead this transformation. To support Vietnam’s rapidly growing air travel demand, the parties have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a framework for broader collaboration across Sun Group’s future airport developments in Vietnam.

Phu Quoc International Airport is projected to handle 24 million passengers annually once the new Terminal 2 opens, with long-term capacity designed to scale to 50 million. The development comes at a pivotal moment and will place Phu Quoc in the global spotlight as a rising destination in the Asia Pacific region.

Under the Phu Quoc project, SITA will deploy an end-to-end suite of airport technologies across the new terminal, delivering a fully self-service passenger experience. Travellers will be able to check in, select seats, print boarding passes and bag tags, drop their luggage, and board their flights through automated touchpoints.

The new terminal will feature SITA Flex Hybrid, supporting 204 common-use workstations for passenger processing. To secure operational resilience, SITA Local Departure Control System (DCS) will be deployed as a backup.

Passengers will use 150 SITA Smart Path kiosks for check-in, seat selection, boarding pass printing, and tagging of check-in bags; 100 SITA Smart Path Bag Drop (Scan & Go) units for self-service baggage drop; and 38 dual-lane SITA Smart Path Gates for automated boarding. All systems are seamlessly coordinated through the SITA Smart Path Hub biometric technology.

Real-time baggage tracking and reconciliation will be delivered through SITA Bag Manager Lite, supporting four baggage workstations and 20 handheld terminals. Airport operations will be powered by SITA Airport Operational Database (AODB), while passenger information will be managed by SITA AirportVision Evolved, covering 397 displays. Overall, airport operations will be overseen by SITA Airport Management, which will support 10 operational workstations.

The project, which began development in March 2026, is scheduled to open in July 2027.

“We are pleased to partner with SITA on this strategic collaboration to support the transformation of our airport portfolio. As we continue to invest in world-class aviation infrastructure, SITA’s proven expertise and end-to-end technology capabilities will play a key role in helping us deliver smarter, more efficient, and seamless passenger experiences,” said Sun Group. President Nguyen Chi Thanh.

The partnership extends beyond a single terminal. Sun Group has designated SITA as a key strategic technology partner for its broader airport transformation initiative in Vietnam. The operating model established at Phu Quoc will serve as a template for future developments, including Phan Thiet Airport and planned projects in Con Dao and Rach Gia. Over the next five years, Sun Group aims to expand its airport footprint to at least five locations across Vietnam, with each targeting the five-star Skytrax standard.

“Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the region, and this partnership with Sun Group marks a key milestone in supporting that growth with future-ready infrastructure. By bringing together SITA’s end-to-end airport technologies, we are delivering smarter, more efficient, and scalable airport operations,” added SITA President, Asia Pacific, Sumesh Patel. “As Phu Quoc evolves into a key aviation hub ahead of APEC 2027, we are proud to support Sun Group’s vision of delivering world-class passenger experiences while strengthening connectivity across Vietnam.”

Phu Quoc International Airport will be operated in partnership with Singapore’s Changi Airports International, bringing internationally recognised standards to what is fast becoming a major leisure destination. 

The airport upgrade forms part of a broader effort to integrate aviation with Sun Group’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem on the island, which includes luxury resorts, entertainment destinations, and Sun Phu Quoc Airways, launched in November 2025.

SITA and Sun Group have worked together since 2019, when SITA first delivered airport technology solutions at Van Don Airport. This new agreement deepens that relationship and reflects a shared commitment to advancing air travel infrastructure in Vietnam.

(Source: SITA)

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With more than 350,000 passengers connecting between Star Alliance member airlines at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) each year, it is one of the Alliance’s most critical global transfer hubs.

Designed to support passengers with tight connections between two Star Alliance member airline flights, SCC proactively identifies customers at risk of missing their onward journey due to their delayed incoming flight and expedites them to their next flight.

For Star Alliance passengers, the experience is simple: a smooth and seamless connection. Behind the scenes, however, teams across Star Alliance member airlines work together to make that possible. Dedicated agents monitor transfer windows using specialised software and step in to coordinate support — meeting passengers at the arrival gate and guiding them swiftly to their next flight.

Star Alliance has operated Connection Centres for more than a decade, supporting both passenger and baggage transfers at key hubs worldwide. In addition to Los Angeles, Star Connection Centres are located in Brussels (BRU), Chicago (ORD), Frankfurt (FRA) and Toronto (YYZ). At the same time, dedicated baggage-focused SCCs operate in Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR), Washington Dulles (IAD) and San Francisco (SFO).

At present, 16 Star Alliance member airlines serve Los Angeles: Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Copa Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines and United. Together, they operate more than 2,000 weekly flights to over 80 destinations across more than 20 countries.

(Source: Air India)

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