Thanks to the proactive and effective epidemic prevention and control measures taken by Macau SAR Government, Macau had been free from newly infected cases for 40days. As per the reports from CCTV, places nationwide that haven’t seen new infected cases over 30 days plus zero patient include Xizang, Macau and Xinjiang. Now the focus of the epidemic prevention work in the airport is to keep off the imported cases, which requires all frontline staffs to continue strictly adhering to the related preventive measures, to the management and control over the public health & environment, to the cooperation with the guidance and requirement introduced by on-site government representatives as well as to the reinforcement of the management over the prevention and control works for the airport operators. CAM Epidemic Prevention Working Group has held the 4th meeting on 18th March, during which the epidemic prevention works along with the necessary measures responding to the current situation have been scrutinized.

Four new infected cases came forth these days (until 3:00pm on 18th Mar 2020) which added the total number of local cases to 14. Macau SAR Government has announced that individuals from all origins except for Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR & Macau SAR are prohibited to enter Macau. Flocks of Macau residents living abroad are returning home, and the movements of the business jets are seen ramping up particularly.

In regards to the airlines that meet the requirements to enjoy the route incentive policy stipulated by the airport, CAM has informed all the related of their corresponding credits, and the total involved amount is over Mop 40 million. As per ACI World estimates, the passenger traffic volumes will be down -24% for the first quarter of 2020 with a revenue loss of USD 3 billion. The airlines can minimize the operational cost by cancelling flights or reallocating aircrafts to other markets, which differentiates from the airport operators who must keep their immobilized assets running. Now we are faced with immediate cash flow pressures with limited capability to lessen the fixed costs and few resources to fund capacity expansion efforts for long-term future growth. According to IATA, COVID-19 might lead to a loss of USD 113 billion for the airlines.

According to the request and guideline from the Civil Aviation Authority of Macau (AACM) about security and safety, and reference from Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) about the Guidelines on Building Safety Management System (SMS) in Transport Airports, to request operation departments to prevent internal spread of virus and also virus import from other countries especially in this critical moment, to follow company’s vision “Safety, Efficiency and Effectiveness”, to ensure the safety of aircraft, passengers and cargo.  Especially to the charter flights and materials that are related to epidemic prevention.

To further develop the professional training courses of employees, review on current human resources and management process, to make adjustments and improvement as to increase staffs’ working quality and environment.  At the moment, CAM has suspended the plan to increase staffs, but vacancies will be filled up as usual.

While we are fulfilling the epidemic prevention work, we start to resume the projects, make use of the period with less aircraft movements and passengers, and accelerate the key projects of infrastructure. For example, South Extension of Passenger Terminal Building (Phase 1),  removal of duty free kiosks in terminal building, changing of new carpets and renovation of AOCC/EOC.  Finance and Administration Department together with Infrastructure Development Department have to make re-assessment of capital investment, during the period with the epidemic situation still going on, prioritizing measure will be taken.

Macau SAR Government has launched development policies to support small and medium-sized enterprises, CAM shall take initiatives to collaborate with the government as well, and embark on the implementation and execution of the relevant relief policies as soon as possible after obtaining the approval from the board members, in hope of supporting the aviation enterprises, service providers and the contractors; meanwhile, all proactive elements shall be deployed in order to prevent and resist the epidemic with joint force, and to get fully prepared for the restoration of the airport operation.

Considering the great downturn in revenue since February due to the epidemic, CAM decides to establish a working group to study and plan the reducing of the approved budgets of this year, the reducing of the budgets of non-key construction projects with the prerequisite of assuring the safe operation, the suspension of the recruitment, the postponement of some evaluation projects, and the adjustment of the key points to trim the expenses and explore the sources. Remain the budget for the safe and secured operation, and that for the exploration of the markets; no limits will be set for the airport commercial development projects, no adjustment will be made to the budget for the corporation communication expenses, no trainings regarding staff and management will be cut. Allocate the funds reasonably in bid to focus on the safeguard of staffs’ interest, safe operation and the major construction projects.

Frontline operation is the foundation of the airport. It will strengthen the efficiency of information transmission and respond to epidemic prevention needs in a timely manner. Currently, risk assessment on COVID-19 outbreak is being carried out to identify risks and define mitigation actions, review and reschedule on airport activities, and strengthen the implementation of facility maintenance and improvement, including pavement marking repainting, rubber cleaning and replacement and substitution of AGL lights.