Anti-government protesters severely disrupt Hong Kong International Airport for second day running
- Demonstrators descend on departures hall on Tuesday afternoon as airport tries to recover from crippling impact of Monday’s mass sit-in
- Angry confrontations between travellers and protesters blocking their path
Anti-government protesters have severely disrupted air travel for a second straight day, forcing Hong Kong International Airport to suspend check-in services for all departing flights.
The Airport Authority announced on Tuesday afternoon that only passengers checked in before 4.30pm would be able to fly. Incoming flights for the rest of the day would continue.
Thousands of demonstrators had occupied the area around the check-in aisles from about 2.30pm, before making their way towards departure gates in an escalation of their protest, while at least 1,000 remained in the arrivals section.
While the public address system urged passengers to leave as soon as possible, many showed no sign of leaving.
A day earlier, protesters similarly prevented passengers from checking in or clearing security, forcing the cancellation of all flights in and out of the city from 4pm.
In a sign of fraying tempers among the travelling public on Tuesday, a woman was seen trying to break through protesters’ lines towards the northern departure gate of Terminal 1, shouting “I want to go home”. Her passage was blocked by protesters, before airport staff stepped in.
