CAM wants ADA

Macau International Airport Company (CAM) is interested in purchasing the Administration of Airports (ADA), the Sino-Portuguese joint venture that currently runs the local airport’s daily operations.
According to sources quoted by Rádio Macau, negotiations between CAM and the two ADA shareholders, China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) and Aeroportos de Portugal (ANA) are already underway.
CAM has yet to put forward a concrete proposal for the purchase of ADA, the sources added.
Last month CAM chairman, Deng Jun, announced that the airport would have ‘a new management structure’ as ADA’s contract would not be renewed at its conclusion on September 11.
He also said that during contract negotiations ADA had rejected CAM’s proposal to purchase a 20 percent share of ADA. This option was discussed in 2009, when the company’s initial 15 year contract was renewed.
Sources said CAM now wants to buy ADA as a whole in order to keep the whole management structure, including the existing personnel.
“The ADA employees are valuable assets to the airport. Therefore, CAM will endeavour to safeguard their employment under the new model of airport management,” Deng assured last month.
The management revamp “is only part of a wider reform” of the airport, the CAM director said, without disclosing any further details.
Last week Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On said at the Legislative Assembly that the CAM debts were “the biggest obstacle” to the development of the airport.
The Administration is the major shareholder of CAM with a 55 percent stake.