Air Macau expands to Shenyang, expects profit growth in 2012

Zheng Yan

Air Macau started a new route to the Chinese city of Shenyang yesterday, to further tap the vast potential of mainland market. The carrier expects profit growth for the financial year of 2012 despite a dramatic fall in the number of Japanese passengers, due to strained Sino-Japanese relations.
The carrier held an inauguration ceremony of the new Macau – Shenyang Route at Macau International Airport yesterday. The route will have four flights each week in its initial stage. Zheng Yan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Air Macau, said that as the 20th route the carrier operates, Shenyang holds a great deal of significance for the company as the northeastern district is one of the most import tourist source markets for Macau, and the new route will make it much more convenient for the two sides to further their economic and cultural exchanges.
Speaking on the carrier’s performance in 2012, Zheng was quoted by TDM as saying that he expected a better profit than that recorded in 2011 (MOP250m), despite a drop of nearly 30 percent of Japanese passengers due to territorial disputes between the two countries. The top executive said Shenyang is just the beginning in a set of new routes the company plans to better coordinate with the country’s 12th Five Year Plan. Other new lines planned include Wenzhou and Zhengzhou, scheduled for later this year. Asked over the newly initiated intercity light railway between Zhuhai and Guangzhou, which also effectively links Macau’s Border Gate with Guangzhou, the chairman said the light rail, as well as the Guangzhou-Beijing high speed train, are both opportunities and challenges for Macau’s aviation industry.  
In order to celebrate this route operation, the Macau Tourist Office prepared a souvenir for each passenger taking the flight no. - NX067 from Shenyang to Macau on January 9 2013. From January 9 until May 9 2013, Galaxy Macau has offered 100 free hotel rooms for the inbound Business class passengers purchasing Air Macau business class ticket from Shenyang.  Each of the first 100 Business class passengers can get one Galaxy Hotel room for a night, free.
Last week the Centre for Aviation (CAPA) released an analysis report saying that Air Macau is finally taking encouraging steps to support the Macau’s economic diversification, by expanding into the Chinese market and other Asian destinations.