Air Macau
Encyclopedia
Air Macau Company Limited is the flag carrier
airline
of and headquartered in Macau
. The airline operates services to 12 destinations in Mainland China
, as well as regional international services, from its hub at Macau International Airport
.
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).
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).
The Air Macau passenger and cargo fleet consists of the following aircraft (at December 2009):
and Taiwan
from 2002 to 2006; both have returned to revenue service Transmile Air Services
(and repainted from Air Macau livery). Both aircraft were replaced with two A300-600RF
s owned by Air Macau.
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 Taiwan
ese passengers in obtaining their PRC
Entry Endorsement.
project, which was to be based in Macau and originally to be launched in 2007, offering scheduled flights mostly to China
. It was founded on 24 January 2006 with an initial funding of $30 million. It was owned by Air Macau (51%) and ST-CNAC (CNAC and Shun Tak Holdings) (49%). The aircraft fleet would have consisted of 6 Airbus A320
short-medium haul jet aircraft, which was planned to be expanded to 15-20 aircraft over the first years in operation.
In November 2007, the Macau Daily News reported that Macau Asia Express was suffering funding problems, which led to a delay at the taking-over of the already ordered aircraft, and finally the revocal of the Air Operator's Certificate
in 2008.
Flag carrier
A flag carrier is a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in a given country, enjoys preferential rights or privileges, accorded by the government, for international operations. It may be a state-run, state-owned or private but...
airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
of and headquartered in Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
. The airline operates services to 12 destinations in Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
, as well as regional international services, from its hub at Macau International Airport
Macau International Airport
- Cargo airlines :The following cargo airlines serve Macau International Airport :*Air Macau*EVA Air Cargo*Shanghai Airlines Cargo*Singapore Airlines Cargo- Other Tenants :* Macau Customs Service...
.
History
The airline was established on 13 September 1994, and began commercial operations on 9 November 1995, with a flight from Macau to BeijingBeijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
and Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
(prior to 1995, there was no air service to Macau other than the helicopter service). One-aircraft service between Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
began on 8 December 1995. The first pure-freighter service was launched on 7 October 2002, between Taipei and Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
via Macau.
Air Macau is owned by China National Aviation (CNAC) (51%), TAP Portugal
TAP Portugal
TAP Portugal, commonly known as TAP, is the national airline of Portugal. It has its head office in Building 25 on the grounds of Portela Airport in Lisbon, and has been a member of the Star Alliance since 14 March 2005, the same day on which the company celebrated its 60th anniversary...
(20%), STDM
Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau
The Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau, SA is a company in Macau owned by Stanley Ho and his family. Historically it held a monopoly to Macau's gambling industry as the only licensee for casinos. In 2002, the Macau government began issuing more licenses and the monopoly was broken...
(14%), EVA Air
EVA Air
EVA Airways Corporation "; ) is an airline based at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei, Taiwan, operating passenger and dedicated cargo services to over 40 international destinations in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. EVA Air is largely privately owned and flies a fully...
(5%), the government of Macau
Government of Macau
The Government of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China , are headed by secretariats or commissioners and report directly to the Chief Executive of Macau. The affairs of the Government are decided by secretaries, who are appointed by the Chief Executive and...
(5%) and Macau investors (5%) and employs 1,023 staff (at March 2007).
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).
Fleet
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers | Routes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | Y | Total | |||
| Airbus A300-B4 Airbus A300 The Airbus A300 is a short- to medium-range widebody jet airliner. Launched in 1972 as the world's first twin-engined widebody, it was the first product of Airbus Industrie, a consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned today by EADS... |
1 | Cargo | Cargo division | ||
| Airbus A300-600RF Airbus A300 The Airbus A300 is a short- to medium-range widebody jet airliner. Launched in 1972 as the world's first twin-engined widebody, it was the first product of Airbus Industrie, a consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned today by EADS... |
2 | Cargo | Cargo division | ||
| Airbus A319-100 | 5 | 8 | 116 | 124 | Short haul |
| Airbus A320-200 | 2 | 12 | 138 | 150 | Short haul |
| Airbus A321-100 | 4 | 16 | 162 | 178 | Short haul |
| Airbus A321-200 | 3 | Short & medium haul | |||
| Total | 17 | ||||
Retired fleet
Two Boeing 727-100Fs were rented to provide air cargo service to ShenzhenShenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
from 2002 to 2006; both have returned to revenue service Transmile Air Services
Transmile Air Services
Transmile Air Services is a cargo airline based in Malaysia. It is an express freight and freighter charter company. The airline was established in November 1993. It has courier transportation services between Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia and services international companies such as DHL...
(and repainted from Air Macau livery). Both aircraft were replaced with two A300-600RF
Airbus A300
The Airbus A300 is a short- to medium-range widebody jet airliner. Launched in 1972 as the world's first twin-engined widebody, it was the first product of Airbus Industrie, a consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned today by EADS...
s owned by Air Macau.
Livery
Although Air Macau serves as Macau's flag carrier, the Special Administrative Region of Macau flag has never appeared on any of its aircrafts. Neither did the flag of Portugal appear on its aircrafts prior 1999 handover.Taiwan Strait
More than 70% of Air Macau's revenue comes from transporting passengers across the Taiwan StraitTaiwan Strait
The Taiwan Strait or Formosa Strait, formerly known as the Black Ditch, is a 180-km-wide strait separating Mainland China and Taiwan. The strait is part of the South China Sea and connects to East China Sea to the northeast...
to Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
. Every week, Air Macau has 72 round-trip flights scheduled between Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
and Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
and 28 round-trip flights scheduled between Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
and Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
.
Air Macau offers a one-plane service for passengers traveling between Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, Xiamen
Xiamen
Xiamen , also known as Amoy , is a major city on the southeast coast of the People's Republic of China. It is administered as a sub-provincial city of Fujian province with an area of and population of 3.53 million...
, and other cities in the Chinese mainland. Although they must complete a brief transfer procedure in the Macau International Airport
Macau International Airport
- Cargo airlines :The following cargo airlines serve Macau International Airport :*Air Macau*EVA Air Cargo*Shanghai Airlines Cargo*Singapore Airlines Cargo- Other Tenants :* Macau Customs Service...
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 Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
ese passengers in obtaining their PRC
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
Entry Endorsement.
Macau Asia Express
Macau Asia Express was a failed low-cost airlineLow-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
project, which was to be based in Macau and originally to be launched in 2007, offering scheduled flights mostly to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. It was founded on 24 January 2006 with an initial funding of $30 million. It was owned by Air Macau (51%) and ST-CNAC (CNAC and Shun Tak Holdings) (49%). The aircraft fleet would have consisted of 6 Airbus A320
Airbus A320 family
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
short-medium haul jet aircraft, which was planned to be expanded to 15-20 aircraft over the first years in operation.
In November 2007, the Macau Daily News reported that Macau Asia Express was suffering funding problems, which led to a delay at the taking-over of the already ordered aircraft, and finally the revocal of the Air Operator's Certificate
Air Operator's Certificate
An air operator's certificate is the approval granted from a national aviation authority to an aircraft operator to allow it to use aircraft for commercial purposes. This requires the operator to have personnel, assets and system in place to ensure the safety of its employees and the general public...
in 2008.