Air Macau: Everything You Need To Know – Simple Flying

As one of the world's most significant markets, the Chinese aviation industry is home to many different types of airlines, ranging from full-service, hybrid, regional, and low-cost carriers. With such a great variety of airlines in a booming industry, it's even common for flag carriers to become slightly overshadowed and not often talked about.

While the major airlines such as Air China, Cathay Pacific, and China Eastern Airlines - to name a few, are more well-known, smaller flag carriers like Air Macau are not. With nearly three decades worth of history and present happenings, let's dive into this particular air carrier.

Since 1962 and before 1995, no commercial air services connected Macau to the rest of the world. All that existed before Air Macau were private helicopter services for those who could afford, and seaplane services offered by the Macao Air Transport Company - a subsidiary of Cathay Pacific Airways to provide short commutes between Macau and Hong Kong until 1961.

Photo: EQRoy | Shutterstock

With this vacuum available, Air Macau was established on September 13th, 1994, as the flag carrier of Macau that would be responsible for providing affordable commercial flight services to and from other countries within the region. However, flight services only commenced the following year on November 9th, 1995, once Macau International Airport was built and ready for operations.

The airline's first flight was from Macau to Beijing Capital International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. This flight was operated with the airline's first aircraft, an Airbus A320 leased from Irish lessor AerCap. Three additional Airbus A321s would eventually join the airline's fleet the same year under the same leasing agreement.

Four years later, in 1999, Air Macau had grown to transport at least 1.1 million passengers annually, with approximately 80% of its passengers originating from Kaoshiung and Taipei. Since then, the airline's route network has graciously expanded to include many destinations in China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and the Philippines.

Then, in 2003, the flag carrier dabbled into the air cargo sector after operating its first freighter service between Taipei and Shenzhen via Macau with an Airbus A300BA-200F leased from TradeWinds. More freighters would soon join the airline's fleet in the next few years until 2012 when Air Macau stuck to serving belly cargo on passenger flights only.

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

Even without the freighters, the airline managed to transport an average of 15,900 tonnes of cargo and mail annually since 2012, alongside an estimated 2.12 million passengers with an average load factor of about 70%. The fleet of Air Macau has also risen to house 22 aircraft, with the reception of its first Airbus A320neo in April 2019 and the first A321neo in December of the same year.

Concerning ownership, the airline's initial big owners were China National Aviation Holding, with a 51% share, followed by TAP Air Portugal, with a 20% stake. Other initial shareholders included the Sociedade de Turismo e Diverses de Macau with 14%, EVA Air with 5%, the government of Macau with 5%, and remaining Macau investors with another 5%.

But when Air Macau fell into financial trouble in 2006 - due to the failed commencement of its low-cost project, Macau Asia Express, in which approximately $30 million was invested as original funding, the flag carrier required a temporary lifeline. The lifeline came when the government of Macau approved a rescue package of about 507.3 million Macanese Pataca ($62.42 million).

Another lifeline appeared in 2009 when a combined stake of 1.25% was sold to Air China by two companies controlled by the Chief Executive of Macau, Edmund Ho. The following year, in 2010, TAP Air Portugal also sold its share to the Star Alliance member, effectively making Air China the parent company of Air Macau with a 66.9% stake.

With Air Macau recovering financially from that crisis and the pandemic, the flag carrier has been expanding its route network in the past two years, gradually reinstating old routes. Fresh new routes and heightened frequencies are also currently underway as the airline looks to strengthen its presence within the region.

Photo: Jeffry Surianto | Shutterstock

As for future expansions of its fleet, the airline has the determination to improve its service further and better meet the growing demands of passengers and is patiently awaiting the arrival of additional Airbus A320neos and A321neos under a leasing agreement.

Have you flown with Air Macau before? Share your experience with us in the comments below.

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Air Macau: Everything You Need To Know - Simple Flying