Hong Kong Airlines postpones public debut of new US$229 million training centre

Hong Kong Airlines has postponed the public debut of its new HK$1.8b (US$229m) training centre, with sources indicating the move was necessary because a court order protecting the city’s airport was unlikely to be lifted before October. “Unfortunately, due to the recurring issues in Hong Kong, we regret to inform you that the opening ceremony of Hong Kong Airlines Training Academy will now proceed as an internal event instead,” the airline said on Wednesday. The unveiling of the 11-storey training centre on the airport island of Chek Lap Kok was originally scheduled for September 25. The facility will have 12 flight simulators, an aircraft cabin mock-up, as well as training areas for emergency situations. It is also to include a 25-metre training pool for evacuation training. According to an aviation source, the Airport Authority told the airline it could not carry out all its public activities for the unveiling of the training centre because of the court injunction that bans anti-government protesters from disrupting operations at Hong Kong’s airport. The source said the injunction was expected to remain in force until at least October 1, which is both National Day and the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. The airport operator obtained an injunction on August 14 to prevent protesters from interfering with Hong Kong’s airport after mass demonstrations on August 12 and August 13 caused the cancellation of nearly 1,000 flights.<br/>