Air Macau Company Limited (traditional Chinese: 澳門航空) is an airline headquartered in Macau.[1] It is the flag carrier of Macau, operating services to 12 destinations in mainland China, as well as regional international services. Its main base is Macau International Airport[2].
[edit] History
The airline was established on 13 September 1994, and began commercial operations on 9 November 1995, with a flight from Macau to Beijing and Shanghai (prior to 1995, there was no air service to Macau other than the helicopter service). One-aircraft service between Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei began on 8 December 1995. The first pure-freighter service was launched on 7 October 2002, between Taipei and Shenzhen via Macau. Air Macau is owned by China National Aviation (CNAC) (51%), TAP Portugal (20%), STDM (14%), Eva Air (5%), the Government of Macau (5%) and Macau investors (5%) and employs 1,023 staff (at March 2007)[2]. Two companies controlled by Macau SAR's Chief Executive Edmund Ho have sold a combined 1.25 percent stake in financially troubled Air Macau to a unit of China flagship carrier Air China, Reuters reported during the week.
According to the report, the stake sale for an undisclosed sum was confirmed by sources at Air China, a unit of Air Macau's controlling shareholder - China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC).
[edit] Destinations
The Air Macau passenger fleet consists of the following aircraft (at March 2007)[2] :
Air Macau Passenger Fleet | Aircraft | Total | Orders | Passengers
(Business/Economy) | Routes | Notes |
| Airbus A300-600RF | 2 | | freight only | Short haul routes | Cargo division |
| Airbus A319-100 | 5 | | 122 (8/114) | Short haul routes | |
| Airbus A320-200 | 2 | | 150 (28/122) | Short haul routes | |
| Airbus A321-100 | 4 | | 178 (16/162) | Short and medium haul routes | |
| Airbus A321-200 | 3 | | 178 (16/162) | Short and medium haul routes | |
| Total Number of Aircraft | 15 | | | |
[edit] Retired Fleet
2 Boeing 727-100F were rented to provide air cargo service to Shenzhen and Taiwan from 2002 to 2006; both have returned to revenue service Transmile Air Services (and repainted from Air Macau livery).
- 9M-TGF - 727-247 Advance F
- 9M-TGA - 727-2F2 Advance F
Both aircraft were replaced with 2 A300-600RF owned by Air Macau.
[edit] Taiwan Strait
More than 70% of Air Macau's revenue comes from transporting passengers across the Taiwan Strait to Macau. Every week, Air Macau has 72 round-trip flights scheduled between Macau and Taipei and 28 round-trip flights scheduled between Macau and Kaohsiung.
Air Macau offers a one-plane service for passengers traveling between Taiwan and Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, and other cities in the Chinese mainland. Although they must complete a brief transfer procedure in the Macau International Airport and wait for about 30 minutes with their carry-on luggage in the departure lobby, passengers can board the same plane once again and continue to their destination. Air Macau staff are also stationed to assist Taiwanese passengers in obtaining their PRC Entry Endorsement.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
Air China Buys 1.25% Air Macau Stake [1]
| Members of the International Air Transport Association | | | | | | Asia-Pacific regional office | | | | | | | China and North Asia regional office | | | | | | | | | | Latin America and the Caribbean regional office | | | | | | | Middle East and North Africa regional office | | | | | | | North America regional office | | | | | | | Russia and the CIS regional office | | | | | |
