What Changed
- Hong Kong's total airport workforce grew to ~75,000 in Q1 2026, with local staff exceeding 90% and wages in 10 designated job types rising 3.4% to 3.8% after the November 2025 review.
- The Airport Authority Hong Kong continues to administer monthly transport subsidies ($100–$400) for over 8,300 local frontline workers, funded jointly by AAHK and imported labor employers.
- The Government officially rejected proposals to grant priority public rental housing access in Tung Chung to airport staff to preserve public housing allocation fairness.
On 4 November 2026, the Secretary for Transport and Logistics of Hong Kong SAR, Ms Mable Chan, delivered a formal reply in the Legislative Council regarding local employee protections and operational safeguards under the Labour Importation Scheme for the Transport Sector - Aviation Industry.
Launched in July 2023, the Scheme permits licensees, franchisees, and operating permit holders of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) to apply for imported workers across 10 designated frontline non-supervisory job types, under an overall quota ceiling of 6,300. To protect local employment, employers must prove local recruitment attempts prior to applying, offer salaries not lower than the official median wage for the specific job type, and maintain a ratio of at least two full-time local employees for every imported worker (2:1).
Addressing legislative inquiries regarding local worker compensation, the Secretary noted that monthly median wages for the 10 designated job types rose by approximately 3.4 per cent to 3.8 per cent between 2023 and the wage review in November 2025. Driven by local recruitment and aviation recovery, the overall airport workforce grew by more than 40 per cent from pandemic lows of 53,000 to approximately 75,000 in the first quarter of 2026, with local staff accounting for over 90 per cent. Local employees in the relevant job types averaged between 20 and 40 hours of overtime per month in recent months, with compensation determined by individual employers based on operational needs.
Regarding welfare measures, since May 2024, AAHK has coordinated a transport subsidy funded jointly by AAHK and employers of imported workers. Eligible local frontline employees receive between $100 and $400 per month. The program currently benefits more than 8,300 staff monthly, with average monthly disbursements of approximately $1.3 million. The existing fund balance is projected to support disbursements for at least the next few years.
Finally, the Government confirmed it will not grant priority allocation of public rental housing in Tung Chung specifically to airport staff, stating that industry-specific reservation of public housing would be unfair to other public rental housing applicants.
Who May Be Affected
Airport Authority Hong Kong licensees, franchisees, operating permit holders, local frontline airport workers, and imported transport staff.
Cross-Border Context
Foreign and cross-border aviation companies operating in Hong Kong International Airport must strictly observe the 2:1 local-to-imported staffing ratio and wage floor rules under local labor regulations.
What to check next
- Monitor periodic updates to the median wage levels for the 10 frontline aviation job types conducted by AAHK and the Transport and Logistics Bureau.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Consult the official text and obtain advice appropriate to your circumstances where needed.