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A Special International Report Prepared by
The Washington Times Advertising Department - Published on October 25, 1999
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Advertisers
(1) Macau Trade & Investment Promotion Institute
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The airport, built on reclaimed land, was an essential part of the necessary infrastructures to put Macau back into the commercial game. The airport is now viewed as playing a key role in Macau's bid to encourage services and tourism and it has already helped to extend the average length of stay of visitors. Some observers believe that the handover will provide an excellent opportunity for further development of tourism and that the airport will prove to be a direct beneficiary. "Naturally, we believe the media's focus on Macau's Handover may indeed increase traffic at the airport and also help Air Macau in the process," added Leonel Miranda, President and Vice Chairman of the airline company. The airport's construction was a critical transportation link to better fuel the idea that Macau can play the same role as that of the neighbors, including Zhuhai and the western part of the Pearl River Delta, as their neighbor, Hong Kong was doing with the Chinese Special Economic Zone of Shenzhen.
Since its opening, the airport has handled 6.5 million passengers and 157,000 tonnes of cargo. This positive growth suggests that the airport has weathered the worst of the Asian economic crisis. The current infrastructure at Macau's International airport serves over six million passengers. "Our airport was a dream realized and of course, we remain hopeful that it will provide the necessary economic liftoff to Macau's future," stated Joao Manuel de Sousa Moreira, chairman of Macau International Airport Company (CAM) The airport seems to be achieving some strong economic gains since it has registered its third straight year of growth with passenger traffic last year up 13.4 percent and air cargo up an impressive 43 percent. Engineer Joan Sousa Moreira was pleased with these numbers. These results reflect the successful operation of the airport even under adverse economic conditions experienced throughout the Asia Pacific region. Over twenty destinations can be reached in China directly from Macau, it's no wonder that Macau does more than qualify as a gateway to China. Air Macau also took a big step forward as it purchased its first aircraft. Flying from Hamburg, Germany, via Muscat, Oman, to Macau, Air Macau's latest aircraft, an Airbus 321, arrived earlier this year. Currently, a little over half of all flights using the airport are to or from Taiwan, mostly handling people in transit to mainland China. Direct flights between Taiwan and the People's Republic are still banned, this works at the moment to the benefit of Macau. There are now 13 airlines serving Macau, offering over 390 weekly scheduled flights to 25 destinations. "We enjoy cooperative relationship with mainland China and after the handover remain even more confident about our future prosperity," remarked Moreira. CAM has a concession to operate the airport for 25 years, with an option to renew. It remains a private company, though the government of Macau owns over 50 percent of the shares, while locally-based tourism and entertainment giant STDM has a stake of over one third. With three straight years of increased passenger traffic, things are definitely looking up for the new airport. |
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(1) Betting on the future with China |
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The opening of the Macau International Airport resulted in a huge leap forward in the tourism infrastructure of the entire territory. Macau now has its own route to the outside world.
Macau International Airport opened in November 1995 and is now a vital link between the world and its fastest growing economic region, the Pearl River Delta. With Macau becoming a preferred entry point for the China market, this 24 hour airport offers passenger and cargo airlines, travel organizations and the important air freight industry a new hub serving the neighboring Hong Kong, Southern China, Pacific Rim countries and beyond.