In 2019, Macau International Airport (MIA) handled 9.6 million passengers and over 77,580 aircraft movements, increased by 16% and 18% respectively. In long term, the air traffic is expected to continue its growth but the capacity of the passenger terminal has been saturated and the unavailability of space in passenger terminal need to be addressed. Considering that the Taipa Ferry Terminal (TFT) being located adjacent to MIA with advantageous geographical accessibility and already in operations with spatial development possibility, it is feasible to remodel part of TFT into the airport auxiliary passenger terminal. Accommodating some airlines and passengers into the auxiliary passenger terminal surely helps increasing the overall capacity of the passenger terminal and improving the overall spatial condition and level of services.

The auxiliary passenger terminal was planned to accommodate at least four airlines with daily operations at the early stage of implementation, with 12 to 16 check-in counters, 4 boarding gates, and floor area equivalent to a quarter of that of the TFT waiting lounges, and can handle 1.5 to 2 million passengers per annum. Those facilities of TFT being close to MIA was planned to use as airport facilities, resulting to seamless connection between the two ports. Departure and arrival flow of airport passengers would be similar to those of ferry passengers. Modification works aiming for passenger and baggage handling as well as ground operations would be conducted, and involves utilizing four waiting lounges and their adjacent commercial shops on the East wing of the 1st floor with approximately 5,100 m2 as security checkpoint and departure waiting lounge/holdroom, existing east departure hall on the 1st floor as check-in area, the arrival hall and arrival immigration area on the East wing of ground floor as baggage handling area, where a section of about 660 meters along the dedicated airport access road extended from the TFT frontal to the apron is designated as airport restricted area.

Departing and arriving passengers go through check-in, baggage check-in and claim, security check, immigration and customs procedures inside the auxiliary terminal. The auxiliary passenger terminal also enhances the sea-air intermodal transportation services between the ports. Air-to-sea passengers or sea-to-air passengers are not required to go through the immigration and customs procedures, and can travel outbound by planes or to the Greater Bay Area by ferries.

The existing TFT facilities will be fully utilized by the passengers of the auxiliary passenger terminal that is mainly located on the East side of the TFT. It is originally planned for the internal operational use. Therefore, the existing services provided in the TFT will not be affected and at the same time sufficient space is reserved for further development. Modifying TFT facilities into auxiliary passenger terminal can resolve the spatial deficiency of the airport terminal and can enhance the comfort experienced by the airport passengers.

Currently, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Marine and Water Bureau and MIA are finalizing the actual scope of area of utilization and afterwards will establish contract in order to allow MIA to proceed for further operational flow design.

Source: Civil Aviation Authority (AACM)