Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has awarded the tender for the development of a new autonomous transportation system and its associated vehicles.
The system will operate between the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) and SKYCITY at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).
The tender has been awarded to KCM – PML Joint Venture, a subsidiary company of Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings Limited and Prime Motors Limited, which was formed by KC Smart Mobility Company Limited (KC Smart Mobility), with further assistance set to be provided by Baidu and Xiamen King Long.
Vivian Cheung said at the signing ceremony:HKIA has been pioneering the application of autonomous driving technology. We are the world’s first and only airport to put autonomous vehicles into live airport operations in a large scale, with autonomous electric tractors for baggage and cargo delivery, autonomous patrol cars to enhance airport security, and autonomous buses to shuttle airport staff on the apron.
The seamless connection between SKYCITY and the Hong Kong Port of the HZMB brought by the new system, along with the numerous attractions at SKYCITY, will certainly create exceptional experience and lure visitors, especially those from the Greater Bay Area, to the new landmark.
The system will operate along Airportcity Link, a dedicated bridge built by AAHK with pedestrian access spanning its length, with trips estimated to last roughly three minutes in each direction.
Each vehicle designed will be capable of carrying up to 16 passengers, with the system itself capable of carrying up to 500 passengers per hour per direction initially. Over time, this is aimed to expand to up to 2,000.
