Air Macau

Air Macau
澳門航空
IATA
NX		 ICAO
AMU		 Callsign
AIR MACAU
Founded 1994
Hubs Macau International Airport
Frequent-flyer program CIP Club
Airport lounge CIP Lounge
Fleet size 16
Destinations 23
Parent company Air China (67%)
Headquarters Macau
Key people Zheng, Yan, Chairman
Zhu, Songyan, CEO
Website www.airmacau.com.mo

Air Macau Company Limited (traditional Chinese: 澳門航空; simplified Chinese: 澳门航空; pinyin: Àomén Hángkōng; Jyutping: ou3mun4*2 hong4 hung1) is the flag carrier airline of and headquartered in Macau. The airline operates services to 12 destinations in Mainland China, as well as regional international services, from its hub at Macau International Airport.[1]

History

The airline was established on 13 September 1994, and began commercial operations on 9 November 1995, with a flight from Macau to Beijing and Shanghai (prior to 1995, there was no air service to Macau since 1962 (seaplane service see Macau Air Transport Company) other than the helicopter service). One-aircraft service between Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei began on 8 December 1995. The first pure-freighter service was launched on 7 October 2002, between Taipei and Shenzhen via Macau.

Air Macau is owned by China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) (51%), TAP Portugal (20%), STDM (14%), EVA Air (5%), the government of Macau (5%) and Macau investors (5%) and employs 1,023 staff (at March 2007).[1] In 2009 two companies controlled by Edmund Ho, the Chief Executive of Macau sold a combined 1.25% stake to Air China for a sum undisclosed by the parties.[2] In 2010 TAP sold its share to Air China.[3]

Corporate affairs

The head office is currently in the Edifício CNAC (Traditional: 中航大廈, Simplified: 中航大厦, Jyutping: zung1 hong4 daai6 haa6, Pinyin: Zhòngháng Dàshà).[4][5] Previously it was in the Edifício Tai Wah (Traditional: 大華大廈, Simplified: 大华大厦, Jyutping: daai6 waa4 daai6 haa6, Pinyin: Dàhuá Dàshà).[6][7][8]

Fleet

An Air Macau Airbus A321-100(B-MAF) departs Chek Lap Kok Airport in 2010.
An Air Macau A321-200WL (B-MBM, with "Macau Welcomes You" special livery) taxiing at Beijing Capital International Airport in 2014.

As of April 2015, the Air Macau fleet consists of the following aircraft with an average age of 11.3 years:[9][10]

Air Macau Fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passenger Note
C Y Total
Airbus A319-100 4 — 5 114 119
16 96 122
Airbus A320-200 3 — 3 138 141
12 132 144
20 132 152
Airbus A321-200 9 — 16
24		 162
155		 178
179
Total 16 —

Retired fleet

Two Boeing 727-100Fs were rented to provide air cargo service to Shenzhen and Taiwan from 2002 to 2006; both have returned to revenue service Transmile Air Services (and repainted from Air Macau livery). Both aircraft were replaced with two A300-600RFs owned by Air Macau. These two Airbus A300 left the company in 2012. Two old A321-100 were replaced by two new A321-200 in 2013.

Livery

Although Air Macau serves as Macau's flag carrier, the Special Administrative Region of Macau flag has never appeared on any of its aircraft. Neither did the flag of Portugal appear on its aircraft prior 1999 handover.

Destinations

Taiwan Strait

More than 70% of Air Macau's revenue comes from transporting passengers across the Taiwan Strait to Macau. Every week, Air Macau has 72 round-trip flights scheduled between Macau and Taipei and 28 round-trip flights scheduled between Macau and Kaohsiung.

Air Macau offers a one-plane service for passengers traveling between Taiwan and Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, and other cities in the Chinese mainland. Although they must complete a brief transfer procedure in the Macau International Airport and wait for about 30 minutes with their carry-on luggage in the departure lobby, passengers can board the same plane once again and continue to their destination. Air Macau staff are also stationed to assist Taiwanese passengers in obtaining their PRC Entry Endorsement.

Macau Asia Express

Macau Asia Express was a failed low-cost airline project, which was to be based in Macau and originally to be launched in 2007, offering scheduled flights mostly to China.[1] It was founded on 24 January 2006 with an initial funding of $30 million. It was owned by Air Macau (51%) and ST-CNAC (CNAC and Shun Tak Holdings) (49%).[1] The aircraft fleet would have consisted of 6 Airbus A320 short-medium haul jet aircraft, which was planned to be expanded to 15-20 aircraft over the first years in operation.[11]

In November 2007, the Macau Daily News reported that Macau Asia Express was suffering funding problems, which led to a delay at the taking-over of the already ordered aircraft, and finally the revocal of the Air Operator's Certificate in 2008.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Flight International 27 March 2007
  2. ↑ "Air China Buys 1.25% Air Macau Stake". Macau Daily Times. 2009-07-19. (aRCHIVE)
  3. ↑ "Portuguese carrier offloads Air Macau stake." Macau Business. Posted April 29, 2010. Issue 7 (7/2006). Retrieved on April 28, 2013. (Archive)
  4. ↑ "Contact Us Service." Air Macau. Retrieved on 23 September 2009. "General Administration Office 398 Alameda Dr. Carlos D'Assumpcao,Edif.CNAC, 13-18 andar, Macau"
  5. ↑ "Contact Us." (Chinese) Air Macau. Retrieved on 15 December 2011. "澳門新口岸宋玉生廣場398號中航大廈 13-18樓"
  6. ↑ "Outras Empresas do Grupo TAP." TAP Portugal. 67. Retrieved on 15 December 2011. "693 Av. da Praia Grande Ed. Tai Wah 5/12 Macau"
  7. ↑ "澳航辦事處 - 澳航地區辦事處: 澳門." Air Macau. 2 April 2003. Retrieved on 15 December 2011. "澳門南灣街693號大華大廈5,8-12樓"
  8. ↑ "Air Macau Contacts: Macau." Air Macau. Retrieved on 15 December 2011. "General Administration Office 693 Av. da Praia Grande, Edif. Tai Wah, 5, 8-12 andar, Macau"
  9. ↑ http://www.airfleets.net/ageflotte/Air%20Macau.htm
  10. ↑ "Air Macau – Details and Fleet History – Planespotters.net Just Aviation". Planespotters.
  11. ↑ "Macau Asia Express to be launched later this year". m-Travel.com. 2006-01-27. Retrieved 2007-06-15.
  12. ↑ Macau Asia Express at airlineupdate.com

External links

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