Airport expects traffic growth

Macau International Airport Company Limited (CAM) forecasts that Macau International Airport will handle 4.35 million passengers in 2010, plus 55,000 tonnes of cargo and deal with 43,500 aircraft movements, according to the Macau Business website.
Last year, the airport had 4.25 million passengers, cargo volume of 52,400 tonnes and 40,601 aircraft movements.
Since the beginning of the year until March 10, the airport handled 818,647 passengers and 9,387 tonnes of cargo, up 9 percent and 37 percent respectively compared to the same period of last year, while recording 7,357 aircraft movements.
An increase was seen in the seat factor with 73 percent, up 10 percent compared to the same period of last year.
A recent Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) report said: “Macau, one of Asia’s potential high growth aviation markets, is in need of a shake-up, having struggled since 2007 under a strategic, political and operational stalemate.’’
According to the report, North Asian aviation’s year of radical transformation in 2010 could provide a trigger for a renewal of Macau’s prospects. But, it adds, the city’s aviation sector risks lagging behind with changes ahead in Japan, Korea and China.
CAPA says Air Macau is under-utilising its considerable route portfolio and restricting Viva Macau’s growth.