The Macau Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) announced in a statement yesterday that it has approved the applications for flight resumptions and increased flights by Air Macau and airline operators from the mainland and overseas.
The statement noted that the regulator is taking proactive steps to help the industry recover and meet air transport demand for the Chinese New Year (CNY).
Starting this month, the statement said that the AACM has received and granted approvals for one flight per week to Bangkok and Seoul operated by Air Macau; three flights per week to Wuhan operated by Air China; and one daily flight operated by Shenzhen Airlines to Wuxi.
The statement added that from next month, there will be three flights per week to Kuala Lumpur operated by Air Asia and two flights per week to Bangkok operated by Thai AirAsia.
During CNY from January 18 to February 5, the statement said that Juneyao Airlines is operating between Shanghai Pudong and Macau with one daily flight, while East Asia Airlines is operating between Macau and Hong Kong with eight daily helicopter services from next Monday to January 20.
Moreover, China Eastern Airlines, as approved by the authority, is increasing the frequency of services between Shanghai Pudong and Macau to 21 weekly flights starting from January 20.
The statement added that Air Macau is resuming services to Beijing, Chongqing, Nantong, Qingdao, Taiyuan, Tianjin, Wenzhou, Yiwu and Zhengzhou to the previous 3 to 21 flights per week from the previously reduced flights in December last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
AACM underlined Shanghai’s importance as a “destination network” for Macau, adding “the post-epidemic recovery also sees a significant increase of frequency of flights for this destination”, with the Shanghai route having eight to 10 flights per day.
The regulator also noted that “the recovery today is no doubt big news for everyone” given the suspension of most flight services for the three years of the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent negative impact on the aviation industry.
The statement added that AACM will continue to conduct safety measures and work closely with the industry to speed up commercial operations and ensure safe operations.
There are currently flights to 29 destinations from Macau, 21 of which are in the mainland, one in Taiwan and six foreign cities in Asia as well as helicopter flights to Hong Kong.
This undated handout photo provided by AACM yesterday shows passengers queuing at the local airport in Taipa.
