Macau International Airport (MIA) hosted the 2022 Media Spring Luncheon on 24th February 2022 expressing sincere thanks for the support from media. With threats of recurring outbreak and the mutation of the virus in 2022, the global epidemic prevention and control situation is still very severe, and the recovery of the world economy and the air transport industry is still hindered. Under the all-out support from the Central and SAR Governments, along with the guidance from the corporate management, team of MIA continues to calmly overcome challenges and difficulties, and seize development opportunities, upholding the core value of “Safety, Efficiency, Effectiveness”.

The Covid-19 variants are spreading rapidly worldwide and fueling new outbreaks around the world. The entry and exit epidemic prevention policies in various places are constantly changing, and the demand for the aviation market has recovered unstable. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Macau International Airport Company Limited (CAM) Mr. Ma Iao Hang stated that MIA received 1.14 million passengers in 2021 with a year-on-year decrease of 2.2% while 15,791 aircraft movements were handled, representing a yearly decline of 6.9%. In 2021, the civil aviation market mainly resumes routes to the Mainland, about 10 routes including: Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Ningbo, Tianjin, Chongqing, Wenzhou, Nanning and Nanjing has been steadily resumed by the end of December 2021, in which passenger traffic volume of East China routes is relatively stable and accounts for about 80% in 2021. Amongst, the Shanghai route increased to an average of 12 round-trip flights per day in July 2021, resumed to that before the pandemic and maintained the leisure travel connection between the East China region and Macau. Benefiting from the growth of global e-commerce, demand for air cargo rose significantly, MIA managed to reach cargo volume of 48,595 tonnes with a year-on-year increase of 45.72%, increased by 15% compared to that of pre-epidemic level in 2019. CAM and Nam Kwong Logistics Company Limited signed Strategic Cooperation Agreement in 2021, through the construction of Macau International Airport (Hengqin) Cargo Terminal, it is hoped that new industries such as Cross-border E-commerce business will be attracted to settle in Macau, hence enhance air cargo service quality. In 2021, MIA operators are estimated to achieve 1.9 billion patacas with a year-on-year increase of 30%, and about 30% of pre-pandemic level in 2019. In 2022, the passenger traffic and flight movements of MIA are projected to recover about 30% and 34% of those of pre-pandemic level (2019), respectively, while the cargo volume is expected to grow by about 20% compared to that of 2019.

Macau International Airport has been actively cope with the SAR Government’s anti-pandemic guideline and has never slackened the prevention and control measures of the epidemic to safeguard the public health and safety. MIA has successfully been awarded with attained “Airport Health Accreditation” by the Airports Council International (ACI), “Double Gold Certificates – Fast Travel” by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and “Airport Customer Experience Accreditation” by ACI. Earlier in 2022, MIA has honored with “The Voice of the Customer” by ACI, affirmed relentless efforts of MIA in implementing epidemic prevention while maintaining high-quality and perfect airport service standards for improving the efficiency of airport safety and operation.

Though we are still on the way to fight with the epidemic, MIA has never stopped its pace for future development to carry out the optimization projects of airport facilities, equipment and infrastructures. Currently, South Extension Project of Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) has entered the final stage of commissioning and site formation work, and is expected to be put into use within this year. By then, the annual capacity of PTB will be 10 million passengers, providing more space for passengers and airport service units to improve the overall security capability of the airport. MIA continues to cooperate with the Civil Aviation Authority of SAR Government (AACM) on implementation of the Macau International Airport Master Plan, of which the scientific research, design plan and documentation for reclamation application are completed. The SAR Government has submitted to Central Government and pending for approval. In addition, the renovation project of the Baggage Handling System (BHS) has been commenced with a designed annual handling capacity of 10 million passengers, is expected to be completed in 2022. Upon completion, the baggage will be automatically transported to the backstage through conveyor belt for security inspection with RFID introduced for baggage tracking and identification, adopting technology to fully optimize airport operational service efficiency. Moreover, the “Renovation for MIA Terminal 2 and Heliport Project” design work has been completed and approved by government authorities in 2021. CAM will continue to work closely with related departments and launch the subsequent tendering and construction work in due course. Upon completion, the annual capacity of T2 will reach 2 million passengers, linked with Pac On Ferry Terminal to build a sea-land-air integrated transportation hub of GBA.

In terms of airport operation and smartization development, “Macau International Airport Smart Airport Blueprint Planning Consultancy Service Agreement” has signed between Airport Information Management Solution Limited (AIMS) and Huawei Technologies co., Ltd (Huawei) to develop strategic cooperation in field of digital transformation renovation and smart airport top frame blueprint planning, in order to accelerate the smart airport planning and construction. Continued to improve operational efficiency so as to achieve the strategic goal of sustainable development of MIA. In 2021, a total of 60 optimization projects in field of information and technology were carried out. These included: the expansion of public wireless network capacity in PTB to enhance stability of free network service provided, the outdoor wireless network system put into operation as preparation for A-CDM upgrade with data collection for ground service process control and vehicle tracking control system; the MIA official website and mobile application have been upgraded, and optimize MIA V-Terminal Platform online payment system for browsing and service experience enhancement; optimization of MIA Business E-Application Platform with additional security page and Aviation Security Voluntary Reporting System to promote airport security management. In 2022, CAM will continue promoting smart airport development, striving to fulfill the conditions to adopt 5G network technology before 5G network went live in Macau, which included: upgrade of airport public wireless network, replacement of Flight Information Display Systems (FIDS), optimization of staff channel with facial recognition technology, developing Airport Operation Management Platform (AOMP) and is expected to be launched in 2022, coping with the Integrated Airport Management Centre (IAMC) to improve incident and emergency management. Additionally, coping with the new BHS in the future, the RFID baggage tag printing function will be activated for optimizing the integration of baggage security information and the Passenger Reconciliation System (PRS), so as to streamline passenger flow and improve security inspection efficiency; launching Auto Bag-drop project of IATA Fast Travel Programme and the study of implementation timetable for One ID.

It is attached great importance to green development in civil aviation industry of China. It is regarded that airports should focus on resource conservation, low-carbon emission reduction, environmental friendliness, and efficient operation. Macau International Airport has successfully obtained Level 2 “Reduction” of the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) Programme for eight consecutive years, and has been awarded the renewal of Indoor Environmental Air Quality (IEAQ) Certification in accordance with the standard of “Macao General Public Area Indoor Air Quality Guidelines”. The “Environmental Management Implementation Team” has been established to promote various green, low-carbon and sustainable development projects more systematically. The enhancement project of PTB air-conditioning system with environmentally friendly refrigerants and replacement of chillers were completed last year.

According to the forecast of International Air Transport Association (IATA) , the global demand for air travel is expected to reach 61% of pre-pandemic crisis (2019) levels, while capacity is expected to increase faster than demand continually, reaching 67% of pre-crisis levels for 2022. Looking ahead, MIA will strive to provide passengers with safe, hygienic and comfortable surroundings as well as services with the People and Honesty oriented principle. CAM will continue adhering to the core value of “Safety, Efficiency and Effectiveness” and constantly adjusting itself to seize the opportunities of the favorable environment in the Bay Area. Meanwhile, giving its full play to the core strategic positioning of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone given by the state and Urban Master Plan of Macau Special Administrative Region, so as to further enhance the competitiveness of the Macau International Airport. Bearing the mindset of “Base in Macau, Leverage on motherland and Face to world”, CAM will proactively cope with the Second Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Macau Special Administrative Region (2021-2025) to create an efficient and convenient travel environment on promoting aviation infrastructure development of Macau.

Management of MIA in the luncheon: Chairman of the Board of Directors of CAM Mr. Ma Iao Hang, Chairman of the Executive Committee of CAM Dr. Deng Jun, Executive Directors of CAM Mr. Chu Tan Neng, Mr. Kan Cheok Kuan, Mr. Lei Si Tai and Department Directors include: Director of Finance and Administration Department Ms. Grace Cheang, Director of Planning and Commercial Development Department Ms. Winnie Hsu, Director of Executive Committee Office Ms. Katy Lo, Director of Information Technology Development Department Ms. Sharon Wang, Director of Marketing Department Mr. Eric Fong, Director of Legal Department Mr. Anthony U, Director of Infrastructure Development Department Mr. Sandro Kou, Director of Corporate Communication & Policy Research Office Ms. Vicki Mou, Director of Logistics and General Aviation Development Department Mr. Frank Wu, Director of Airport Operations Department Mr. Gary Geng, Director of Internal Audit Department Mr. Derek Chan.