HK Express Takes Home Three Awards at the ‘Airport Safety Recognition Scheme’

As Hong Kong’s homegrown low-cost carrier, HK Express is pleased to receive three awards from Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) last week. Presented on 28 May 2020 as part of the 2019/2020 Airport Safety Recognition Scheme, these achievements underscore the airline’s unwavering commitment to safety excellence across company culture and operations.

The Airport Safety Recognition Scheme recognises airlines and operators within the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) community that cultivate a safety-first work culture and adhere to the highest safety standards. After carefully vetting nominations, an independent panel of judges from the AA shortlisted the operators who displayed the most outstanding safety achievements.

HK Express is proud to accept the ‘HKIA Safety Excellence Award – Merit’, which the panel awarded based on three main criteria. First, they evaluated the airline’s ‘Safety Performance’, carefully analysing safety audit results, injury rates, safety management systems, and safety awards. The judges also considered the airline’s ‘Safety Promotion’ activities, such as competitions that aim to raise awareness about occupational safety and health amongst staff members. Last but not the least, the panel reviewed HK Express’s overall ‘Safety Culture’ in the workplace, exemplified by transparent reporting practices, proactive risk mitigation, and an emphasis on a just and caring work culture.

Alongside this company-wide achievement, HK Express’ Maintenance Control Centre (MCC) received the ‘Role Model Safety Behaviour’ Award. The honour turns a spotlight on the department’s exemplary track record, from comprehensive safety training programmes to accountability, transparency, and positive attitudes towards health and safety. The team follows a particularly notable reporting and problem-solving process, which seeks to identify the root cause of each issue and adjust procedures accordingly. For example, the MCC team proactively identified areas of improvement in its Maintenance & Repair Organization in 2018, resulting in significant safety enhancements over the past two years.

AA also honoured an exemplary individual, Mr Choi Hon Sang, with a ‘Good Safety Suggestion’ Award. A Principle Engineer in HK Express’ Maintenance & Engineering (M&E) Department, Mr Choi is a role model in the industry, having implemented several initiatives to further cultivate the company’s safety-first culture. Amongst his many achievements, Mr Choi devised the Occupational Health and Safety Procedure Manual for the M&E Department in June 2019 to develop, implement and maintain excellent safety standards. He also monitors and reviews the department’s safety performance, identifies and mitigates risks, works with external operators to improve safety standards, and effectively communicates with his team to encourage a positive safety culture.

“At HK Express, we are dedicated to keeping our teammates and passengers safe, on the ground in the Engineering Department and up in the clouds at 35,000 feet,” said Mandy Ng, CEO of HK Express. “We are honoured to accept these accolades from the AA, which recognise the airline’s long-standing safety culture and the work of our deserving teammates.”