The Civil Aviation Authority of Macao (AACM) has approved the arrival of 80 extra commercial and charter flights – primarily from China and Taiwan – to meet demand ahead of upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations.
The flights, which began arriving on Sunday 4 February and will continue until 26 February, represents exactly double the approved extra quota for Chinese New Year in 2017 when 40 extra flights were approved.
The increase in air traffic will include 51 flights from mainland China, incorporating the cities of Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Changzhou, Chengdu and Qingdao. Another 24 flights will come from Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan while Japan and Vietnam will get two extra flights and Bangkok one.
The airlines approved to operate the 80 flights are Air Macau, Juneyao Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Sky Flyer Inc, the AACM announced.
Chinese New Year has traditionally been a key revenue driver for Macau’s casino operators.