Macau’s international airport recorded a passenger volume of over 750,000 in the first quarter of 2023, representing a year-on-year increase of 170 per cent.
A total of 6,900 flights hit the runway in the first three months of the year, marking a year-on-year increase of 57 per cent, Macau International Airport Co. (CAM) noted in a press release.
CAM said that with the SAR’s full reopening of borders, airlines have been gradually resuming their flight operations while increasing flight frequencies, leading to remarkable growth in the number of air passengers.
It was mainly attributed to gradual recoveries in the mainland, Taiwan, and overseas markets, alongside a notable uptick in international passengers traveling between Macau and Southeast Asian countries.
The passenger volume and air traffic recovered to 32 per cent and 37.4 per cent of the pre-pandemic levels respectively in the first quarter of 2023.
Throughout the three-year pandemic, the local airport saw a decline in its passenger volume, with figures dropping to 1.17 million, 1.14 million, and 0.6 million in 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively.
Looking ahead to the second quarter, CAM said they would strive to develop new flight destinations, with passenger volume expected to maintain its upward trajectory.
Meanwhile, CAM will continue to cooperate with airlines to promote the development of medium- and long-haul private jet services, in line with the SAR government’s policy to boost international air traffic.
Last month, charter flight service operator TAG Aviation Macau FBO said that local gaming concessionaires were turning to private jet services in a bid to woo more overseas guests, as part of ongoing efforts to expand their customer base.
