The Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) confirmed on 3 August 2026 that it has completed vetting the fourth—and final—round of applications under the Labour Importation Scheme for the Transport Sector – Aviation Industry. Thirty-three eligible aviation companies applied for 1,673 import-labour quotas during the 2–15 July window; 1,366 quotas spanning nine front-line job categories have now been granted. The award includes 516 renewals for workers whose two-year contracts issued in earlier rounds are about to expire, meaning Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) operators can keep experienced staff on the tarmac. Introduced in July 2023, the quota system was designed to plug an acute post-pandemic manpower gap that had pushed ground-handling turn-around times well above regional competitors. In total, all 6,300 quotas authorised under the three-year pilot have now been allocated. Employers must maintain a prescribed local-to-imported staff ratio and pay HK$400 per imported worker per month into an Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) fund that subsidises transport for local front-liners—a mechanism aimed at safeguarding local employment while easing bottlenecks. The majority of the newly-approved positions are for ground-handling, ramp operations and aircraft-cleaning staff—precisely the areas that airlines such as Cathay Pacific and HK Express cited as limiting their ability to restore pre-Covid frequencies. Industry groups welcomed the news; the Board of Airline Representatives Hong Kong said the extra hands should allow carriers to hit the Civil Aviation Department’s target of 80 % of 2019 movements by the fourth quarter. For global mobility managers, the decision signals that Hong Kong is doubling down on its strategy of targeted labour importation rather than broad immigration liberalisation to keep one of Asia’s busiest hubs competitive. Companies relocating regional staff can expect shorter minimum-connect times and fewer baggage delays once the additional workers clear training in September. However, the quota cap also means competition among employers for future rounds (if the scheme is extended) will be fierce, putting upward pressure on wages and benefits packages for foreign ground staff. Looking ahead, the TLB and AAHK will meet quarterly with airlines, unions and ground-handling agents to review implementation and consider whether extra quotas—or a permanent scheme—are warranted. Much will depend on whether visitor arrivals continue their steady climb toward the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s forecast of 46 million for 2026, and whether parallel talent-attraction initiatives—such as the city’s Top Talent Pass—succeed in drawing higher-skilled expatriates to complement the imported shift-workers now green-lighted.
Source: HKSAR Government Press Release
