Macau International - Ten year milestone
Written on June 12, 2006 by Macau
With celebrations for its 10th anniversary now complete, Macau is setting its sights on the growing regional low-cost carrrier market. Leon Barber reports By any yardstick, 2005 was significant for Macau International Airport. Its 10th anniversary year got off to a flying start with the presentation of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation's Airport of the Year accolade in recognition of MIA’s performance and achievement during the previous 12 months.
The award citation referred to its “aggressive marketing to reposition the airport effectively, despite strong local competition, and establishing itself as the most attractive low-cost carrier airport in the region, with the first north Asian low-cost airline operations”.
It was followed by a series of anniversary celebrations, culminating in a special dinner attended by Macau’s Chief Executive and the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, along with top aviation officials. And the year ended on a high note with a charity concert featuring superstar Leo Ku.
All of which has helped to reaffirm MIA's emerging status as a regional low-cost gateway for a destination that is dubbed ‘the Las Vegas of the East’. The airport is expected to play an increasingly important role as Macau’s burgeoning gaming industry, a plethora of new hotels and developing tourist infrastructure take shape. In 2005, it handled 4.25 million passengers, an increase of 14% increase on the previous year and very much back on track after the hiccup in 2003, when traffic plummeted 30% to just under three million as a result of the SARs outbreak. Double digit growth was also seen in the number of aircraft take-offs and landings last year – 45,000, representing an 11% rise.
However, Macau faced tough competition in the cargo sector from neighbouring airports, yet still managed to maintain the throughput achieved in 2004, when it reached the world's top 100 airports in terms of cargo uplift rankings – last year's 227,233 tons representing a modest improvement of 3%.
Since its opening a decade ago, MIA has handled in excess of 30 million passengers, confounding those critics who saw Hong Kong as the only viable gateway to the region. The two former colonies are still linked by a frequent ferry service and a high-speed jetfoil operation, which completes the 65km journey in around one hour. Macau International is currently served by eight airlines flying to a total of 23 destinations. Last year saw the arrival of Tiger Airways, providing low-cost flights to and from Singapore, and launching an additional service in October via Clark in the Philippines. Air Macau, the only airline based at MIA, withdrew flights on the Bangkok route last spring but reinstated the service in December alongside Air Asia, as well as resuming its operation to Sanya. Kuala Lumpur-based Air Asia also operates low-cost flights between Macau and the Malaysian capital. Discussions are currently underway for a possible new route to Kansai, starting this year.
Meanwhile, added convenience for travellers transferring to Hong Kong and Shenzen is provided through the airport's Express Link service, which eliminates the need for immigration and customs clearance in Macau.
After purchasing a combined jetfoil/bus ticket for MOP55 (US$9), travellers identify their luggage before boarding the bus airside for transfer to the Macau Maritime Terminal. It is quick and hassle-free.
Other recent improvements include a new access control system, designed to further strengthen airport security, while a new flight information display system provides more detail and accurate fact for passengers.
Source: OAG Worldwide Limited
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