Macau’s Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) has revealed it will remodel part of the Taipa Ferry Terminal (TFT) to become an airport auxiliary passenger terminal. The new terminal is expected to accommodate at least four airlines with daily operations and accommodate between 1.5 million and 2 million passengers per year.
Macau International Airport handled 9.6 million passengers and over 77,580 aircraft movements in 2019, up by 16% and 18% respectively on 2018 figures. The government believes air traffic will continue to grow, pushing the current passenger terminal to capacity.
Due to the impact of COVID-19, passenger flow and cargo volume of Macau International Airport in the first quarter of 2020 dropped by 50% and 25% respectively year-on-year. However, the short-term plunge does not affect the government’s long-term confidence in passenger recovery and its future plans for the airport.
According to the draft planning announced on the AACM website, the auxiliary passenger terminal will utilize the east wing areas of the Taipa Ferry Terminal, with 12 to 16 check-in counters and four boarding gates. The floor area will cover around 25% of the current TFT waiting lounges.
All departing and arriving procedures will take place inside the auxiliary terminal, but passengers will have to take a cobus from the terminal to their plane.
The new terminal will also enhance the sea-air intermodal transportation services between ports. Air-to-sea passengers or sea-to-air passengers will not be required to go through immigration and customs procedures, and will be able to travel outbound by plane or to the Greater Bay Area by ferry.
The existing services provided at TFT will not be affected and space has been reserved for further development. The government believes the extension could be undertaken in the second half of 2021.
