Macau International Airport Co. Ltd. as a member of the Airports Council International (ACI) participated in its 16th ACI World Annual General Assembly & Exhibition, which takes place in Cape Town, South Africa from 6th – 9th November 2006.

With a participating audience of over 500 delegates representing 80 countries from around the world, this year’s conference was conducted under the theme of “Airports Mean Business”. Topics such as the new business models for airports, the IT challenges and applications, safety and the environmental concerns surrounding the aviation industry in today’s setting and ever-changing circumstances were discussed during the conference.

This year’s edition of the ACI World Annual General Assembly witnessed the addition of 22 new regular members as well as the issuing of 3 new resolutions in the areas of “Aviation Security and Passenger Facilitation”, “Safety at Airports and the “ACI Technical Standard-Setting” all these in addition to the resolutions issued and approved in last year’s General Assembly.

Airports are a pillar of international air transport. To adequately safeguard their interests and their influence, the global airport industry needs a strong voice. Airports Council International (ACI) is that voice. ACI has created a global airport community, which together with membership by virtually every civil airport in the world, incorporates broad membership from the affiliated industries. ACI serves these members by providing them with industry knowledge to further professional excellence in airport management and operations, and to stimulate business development.

As the key components of the air transport system are highly interdependent, one of the main objectives of ACI is to achieve a high degree of cooperation among all segments of the aviation industry and their stakeholders as well as with governments. Airports are vital to the social and economic development of regions and communities worldwide. ACI communicates the importance of airport development and enhances the public awareness of the undisputed benefits airports bring to regions, communities and individuals. Through ACI the exchange of best practices via publications, conferences, committees, training, seminars, programs and the several ACI websites is facilitated and encouraged.

With the rapid growth of Macau as Asia’s new conference and entertainment centre, Macau International Airport is currently undertaking new agreements with other international airlines to satisfy the airport’s and Macau’s growing needs. With the region’s increasing airfreight traffic, Macau International Airport’s 24-hour operations will offer travel organizations and the airfreight industry flexibility and convenience as an alternative hub. Macau International Airport is currently serving 20 major cities in Asia and Mainland China with a total of 1,038 flights weekly. Air Asia flies to Bangkok three times daily and Kuala Lumpur twice daily while Tiger Airways operates a daily flight to Singapore and Manila (Clark) in the Philippines. Macau International Airport is currently expanding its routes network to South East Asia especially Japan. Currently, there are flights to Kagoshima, Fukuoka and Kyushu.

Attending this year’s ACI World General Assembly representing Macau International Airport Co. Ltd. were Ms. Liu Suning, the Executive Director of the Macau International Airport Co. Ltd. and Mr. Joao Antunes Joao Antunes, Assistant to the Executive Director.