Taking Flight in HR: Huang Kiu, Kitty's Internship Journey at Hong Kong Airlines

Year 4 BBA (Hons) in Human Resource Management and Entrepreneurship student Huang Kiu, Kitty recently took part in an internship at Hong Kong Airlines, gaining valuable hands-on exposure to how Human Resource supports aviation operations behind the scenes. This internship provided her with a rare opportunity to understand how HR contributes to safety, service excellence, and organisational effectiveness in one of Hong Kong’s major airlines.

During her placement, Kitty rotated across both the Compensation & Benefits Team and the Talent Development Team, taking part in a wide range of HR functions. Her responsibilities included leave calculations, staff record verification, medical insurance registration procedures, DSE risk assessments, EQ training material development, and conducting headquarters tours for visitors. These tasks allowed her to apply HR knowledge in real operational settings and understand the importance of accuracy, communication, and employee support in HR work.

One of the most impactful moments of her internship was participating in a live emergency evacuation drill inside the mock cabin. Standing at the top of the evacuation slide and experiencing the simulation firsthand gave her a deeper appreciation of HR’s role in designing and supporting safety‑critical training for crew members. This experience highlighted how HR contributes directly to passenger safety and operational readiness — far beyond administrative work.

On 3 August 2026, collaboration between academia and industry was advanced at Hong Kong Airlines Headquarters with the support of Ms Viola Wong, Director of Human Resources at Hong Kong Airlines, and nomination by Dr Felix Yip of Lingnan University. Through the Student Enhancement Programme led by Prof. Liane Lee, the internship provided practical engagement with aviation HR practices. This ongoing partnership between Lingnan University and Hong Kong Airlines continues to offer students high-quality experiential learning opportunities in a professional industry setting.

Kitty’s internship journey not only strengthened her passion for Human Resource — especially in Compensation & Benefits and Talent Development — but also demonstrated the value of real-world learning in shaping future HR professionals.