Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) is the main airport of Hong Kong and one of the most important aviation hubs in the world. It is located on Chek Lap Kok Island, about 35 km from central Hong Kong, and started operating in 1998 after replacing the old Kai Tak Airport. It is a major international transit airport, connecting Asia with Europe, the Middle East, and North America. The airport handles around 50–70 million passengers per year and serves hundreds of destinations worldwide.