Hong Kong: over the Pearl River estuary
A giant airport on reclaimed land, with Lantau Island’s peaks beside the approach and a dedicated business-aviation centre.
Hong Kong: over the Pearl River estuary
Hong Kong International Airport · RWY 07L
Why it is famous
Hong Kong International was built on land reclaimed around the islands of Chek Lap Kok and Lam Chau. Arrivals on runway 07 come in over the Pearl River estuary, with the mountains of Lantau Island to the right.
The jet-set angle
Business jets use the Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre, and slots are tightly controlled, so arrivals are planned well in advance.
What to watch
- Ships in the estuary below
- Lantau’s peaks off the right wing
- The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge crossing the water
More legendary approaches
St Barts: the drop over the hill
Clear a ridge with a roundabout on top, dive for a runway barely 2,100 feet long and stop before the beach — one of the most famous landings in the world.
St Maarten: low over Maho Beach
The approach that made plane-spotting famous: a three-degree final that crosses Maho Beach moments before touchdown.
London City: the 5.5° dive past Canary Wharf
A glide path almost twice as steep as normal, between skyscrapers and the Thames — only specially approved aircraft may fly it.