Air Macau
| Industry | Airline |
|---|---|
| Founded | September 13, 1994 |
| Headquarters | Macau , Macau |
Area served | Mainland China, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam |
| Products | Air services |
Number of employees | 1245 (2016) |
| Parent | Air China (majority owner with 66.9%) |
| Website | www |
Air Macau serves as the flag carrier of Macau, providing air services to 24 locations throughout Mainland China, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam from its hub at Macau International Airport. In the year 2014, the airline carried 2.12 million passengers with an average load factor of 68.20%, while managing 15,900 tonnes of cargo and mail.
History
Established on 13 September 1994, Air Macau began its flight operations on 9 November 1995 with routes to Beijing and Shanghai. Prior to 1995, Macau had no scheduled air connections since 1962 except for helicopter services; seaplane flights operated between 1948 and 1961. The airline’s initial single-aircraft service launched on 8 December 1995, linking Beijing, Shanghai, and Taipei. Its first cargo flight started on 7 October 2002, operating between Taipei and Shenzhen via Macau.
By the year 1999, Air Macau was transporting approximately 1.1 million passengers annually, with about 80% coming from Taiwan’s cities of Kaohsiung and Taipei. Ownership in 2006 was divided among China National Aviation Holding (51%), TAP Air Portugal (20%), STDM (14%), EVA Air (5%), the government of Macau (5%), and local Macau investors (5%). As of March 2016, the company employed around 1,245 personnel.
In 2009, two enterprises associated with Macau’s Chief Executive Edmund Ho sold a combined stake of 1.25% to Air China. By 2010, TAP Air Portugal had sold its shares to Air China, which currently holds a majority ownership of 66.9%.
Corporate affairs
The airline’s headquarters are situated in the Edifício CNAC (中航大廈) located in Sé (Cathedral Parish) on the Macau Peninsula. Its previous office was housed in the Edifício Tai Wah (大華大廈), also in Sé.
Destinations
Air Macau flies to a total of 24 destinations, including 15 within mainland China.
}Air Macau has established codeshare partnerships with a number of prominent airlines, broadening its route network and strengthening its market footprint:
- Air China
- All Nippon Airways
- Asiana Airlines
- EVA Air
- Philippine Airlines
- Shandong Airlines
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Thai Airways International
Since July 1, 2010, Air Macau and All Nippon Airways have collaborated on their frequent flyer schemes, enabling members to accrue and redeem miles on flights operated by both airlines.
Frequent flyer
The airline runs the Lotus Miles loyalty program, previously known as Privileges. On January 1, 2015, the Privileges program was integrated with Air China's Phoenix Miles, consolidating rewards under the Lotus Miles brand.
Current fleet
, Air Macau's fleet consists exclusively of Airbus aircraft as follows:
| Aircraft | In service | Passenger configuration | Remarks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Y | Total | |||
| Airbus A320-200 | 6 | 8 | 150 | 158 | Includes B-MCI featuring "Historic Centre of Macau" livery. |
| Airbus A320neo | 4 | 8 | 150 | 158 | Aircraft leased from Bank of China. |
| Airbus A321-200 | 8 | 12 | 170 | 182 | B-MBM sports "Macau Welcomes You" livery; B-MBB carries "Creative City of Gastronomy". |
| 24 | 155 | 179 | |||
| Airbus A321neo | 4 | 12 | 186 | 198 | Includes B-MBQ with "Macau Welcomes You" special livery. |
| Total | 22 | ||||
Former fleet
Between 2002 and 2006, two leased Boeing 727-100Fs serviced cargo routes to Shenzhen and Taiwan. These aircraft were returned to Transmile Air Services and repainted from Air Macau colors. Subsequently, two company-owned Airbus A300-600RF freighters replaced them until their departure from the fleet in 2012. Additionally, two older A321-100s were phased out in favor of newer A321-200 models in 2013. The retirement of two Airbus A319-100 planes occurred in 2020.
Livery
As the flag carrier for Macau, Air Macau has never featured the Flag of Macau on its aircraft, a practice similar to Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific. However, unlike Cathay Pacific—which displayed the Union Jack before the 1997 Handover—Air Macau did not exhibit the flag of Portugal prior to Macau's 1999 Handover.
Macau Asia Express
Macau Asia Express was conceived as a low-cost airline based in Macau, targeting launch in 2007 with routes mainly connecting to mainland China. Established on January 24, 2006, with an initial capital injection of $30 million, ownership was split 51% by Air Macau and 49% by ST-CNAC (a joint venture between CNAC and Shun Tak Holdings). The initial fleet plan included six Airbus A320 family aircraft, with ambitions to expand to between 15 and 20 planes within a few years.
Nevertheless, financial constraints delayed aircraft deliveries and hampered operational progress. The airline's Air Operator's Certificate was revoked in 2008, leading to the project's cancellation.