Macao International Airport handled a record 6.6m (+14%) passengers in 2016, ahead of this year’s opening of a new terminal, complete with additional retail and F&B facilities.

 

The new facility has been designed by Mott MacDonald and comprises a total area of 12,120sq m, with a departure level comprising a modest 3,425sq m, mezzanine 3,281sq m and a first floor arrivals level of 1,392sq m.

 

When the Special Administrative Region of China’s new airport terminal opens in the second half of this year, it is expected to increase the airport’s annual capacity to 7.5m to 7.8m passengers, with this new expansion aimed primarily at attracting more ‘high-end travellers’.

 

SIGNIFICANT AIRPORT UPGRADING

This will doubtless be welcomed by the airport’s two competing duty free retailers, comprising the tie up between Shilla Duty Free and Anway/Sky Connection and its competitor, King Power Duty Free [both 5-year contracts expire in late 2019-Ed]. When complete, this expansion should also benefit DFS Macao off airport retail operations.

According to the airport’s design and build statement incorporating the Passenger Terminal Building project specifications, the expansion will follow the line of the existing building at the northern end of the existing terminal.

 

The Arrivals Level will focus on providing additional area in zones requiring additional processing capacity, while the Departures Level is described as ’a full build out’, providing additional area in the departures lounge, whilst boosting additional retail and office space.

 

 

The Macao International Airport Company Limited (CAM) says that the expansion will improve its dwell areas with ‘a greater number of seats’ and ‘a more varied array of retail and F&B options’.

 

 

NEW CARRIERS AND NEW ROUTES…

This expansion is very timely considering last year’s passenger volume was the highest in the airport’s 21-year history, with its 42 destinations covering Mainland China, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and North Asia.

 

The airport has also added new carriers and new routes, as the Mainland China market increased by 4% last year, while the ’China Taiwan’ and Southeast Asia markets also rose by 15% and 20% respectively.

 

In all, MIA reports a growth of 16% and 9% respectively in passengers taking both ‘legacy and low cost airlines’.

 

Meanwhile, MIA Chairman of the Board of Directors Ma Iao Hang congratulated the airport management earlier this month for the progress made during 2016 and also for its route expansion plan.

 

CHINA , CAMBODIA AND RUSSIA…

This year, MIA plans to launch new direct services to Harbin, Taichung, DaNang, Siem Reap, and Hanoi, while it is also relaunching the route to Moscow from May.

 

This follows the recent announcement by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) that total visitor arrivals in 2016 hit a record 30m – up by a marginal 0.8% compared with 2015 [See separate story-Ed].