Macau Airport looks to 2009
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Dr. Deng Jun, Chairman of Board of Directors of Macau International Airport Company Ltd, has outlined his thoughts for 2009, the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation has reported. Reviewing 2008, Dr Jun said that Macau’s aviation industry had to face not only the negative effects of high jet fuel prices and the global economic crisis, but the impacts of extraordinary incidents such as a severe snow disaster in beginning of the year, riots in Tibet in March, the Sichuan earthquake in May, weekend direct cross-strait charter flights in July, visa control policy on mainland FIT travellers to Macau in August, and the suspension of casino projects in November.
He reflected however that Macau International Airport (MIA) succeeded in introducing three international airlines flying into Macau in 2008: Jetstar Asia from Singapore, Philippine Airlines from Manila, and Bangkok Airways from Bangkok. Currently there are 15 airlines serving 27 destinations from MIA.
From January to November, MIA handled 4,743,549 passengers and 46,404 aircraft movements, representing a drop of 5.8 and 4.9% respectively, year-on-year.
Despite believing that the global economic crisis will continue into 2009, Dr Jun said that MIA will continue to improve and enhance at service and operation level, deepen efforts in repositioning market structure, and strengthen market development and promotional efforts.
He added that the hub would continue to invest in necessary infrastructure improvement projects in such as improving the safety standard of the runway, finishing renovating all washrooms, completion of upgrading the communication and navigation system, improvement of the internal and external environments of the terminal building, rebuilding the facilities of smoking areas, and launching the expansion of the South Terminal Building.
Dr Jun added that Macau would continue to be run as a ‘green’ airport, pursuing sustainable development.
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