The Airport Authority has appointed Maunsell Consultants Asia Limited as lead consultant for the Hong Kong International Airport Master Plan 2030.

This 20-year blueprint will ensure the airport meets growing demand for aviation services and continues to serve the best interests of the community.

Maunsell will lead a team of sub consultants - including cost estimators and environmentalists, and planners specialising in areas such as airfields, terminals, retail facilities and rail networks - to make a comprehensive assessment of the airport's operational requirements and constraints.

The study is expected to be completed within a year.

Airport Authority Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hui said the master plan would update the air-traffic forecasts, capacity requirements, development plans and growth strategies.

The plan would also review and recommend the optimal airport layout and land-use development including the possibility of building a third runway and its supporting infrastructure.

He also said they would carry out a separate consultancy study to assess the environmental impacts and engineering feasibilities of expansion options.