On July 5, 1998
Hong Kong-based Dragon Air's Flight HDA841 from Chongqing, China, was the last to land at 1538Z.
The last commercial flight to leave Hong Kong's old Kai Tak Airport was the CPA251 flight to London Heathrow Airport. The plane left at midnight local time (1602Z) and was piloted by Captain Kim Sharman, a 21-year veteran who was retiring after the flight.
The new airport was officially opened on 6 July 1998; and in a testament to logistical planning, all the essential airport supplies and vehicles that were left in the old airport for operation were transported to Chek Lap Kok in one early morning with a single massive move.
On July 6, 1998 at 1:17 am local time (1717Z), Director of Civil Aviation, Mr. R A Siegel on the light-out ceremony : "It will always be special in our hearts, not only here in Hong Kong but also to many people around the world. Kai Tak has truly been one of the world's great airports but tonight we must say good bye to our old friend. The last passenger has arrived, the last flight has departed, the runway is silent and it is now time to turn off the lights which have safely guided thousands of arriving aircraft. Goodbye Kai Tak and thank you."
After the last plane, a Cathay Pacific A340, took off from Kai Tak at 1:28 am. Kai Tak was subsequently closed, transferring its ICAO and IATA airport codes to the replacement airport at Chek Lap Kok.
On that day at 6:25 a.m., the first flight to land at the new Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok, was the Cathay Pacific flight CPA889 from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport, USA, non-stop and flying over the North Pole. This flight was named Polar One