'11 Skies to merge with HK$100bn Skytopia project'

The Airport Authority (AA) says 11 Skies will be renamed, repositioned and integrated into Skytopia – a HK$100 billion mega project aimed at transforming the area near the airport into an international entertainment hub. Speaking to the press, Cissy Chan, the AA’s executive director of commercial, said half of the 3.8 million-square-foot 11 Skies will be turned into entertainment facilities such as a go-kart track, alongside pet-friendly venues. The other half will be used for dining and retail. Chan noted that a direct-delivery fresh market, originally planned for an outdoor space, will be moved indoors. Retail outlets will also move beyond traditional luxury brands to incorporate more "experimental elements". Her remarks came after the authority reached an agreement with New World Development to terminate the sublease of the 11 Skies project, with the developer providing compensation of more than HK$3 billion in cash and cash equivalents. Under the agreement, New World Development will continue to operate two of the entertainment facilities of Skytopia, Chan added. The entire revamped 11 Skies is scheduled to open between late 2028 and 2029, and Chan expressed confidence that most of the space will be leased by then. Meanwhile, Julian Lee, the AA’s Executive Director of Finance, said all...