Macau International Airport recorded approximately 3,612,212 passengers during the first half of the year, representing a year-on-year decrease of approximately 3.2%.
According to data released by the Macau International Airport Co Ltd (CAM), the highest passenger throughput at the airport in the first half of this year was recorded in January, driven by the Spring Festival holiday, with 676,235 passengers recorded – representing a year-on-year increase of 15.1%. However, passenger throughput declined in all months from February to June.
February saw a 5.0% decline to 572,761 passengers, March a 3.0% decline to 588,949, April a 9.7% decline to 604,970, May a 7.0% decline to 590,412, and June a 7.6% decline to 578,885 passengers.
According to data previously released by the Tourism Development Committee, the number of visitors to Macau in the first half of the year increased by 15% year-on-year to 19.2 million, recovering to 95% of 2019 levels. Among these, international visitors totaled approximately 1.34 million, representing a year-on-year increase of nearly 15%.
While the number of visitors to Macau has increased, passenger throughput at the international airport has declined, indicating that Macau’s airport is becoming less attractive and that travelers are increasingly using transportation from neighboring areas to enter Macau.
In order to enhance the competitiveness of the local aviation market, Macau has passed legislation to liberalize aviation operating rights, with the new law set to take effect in February next year.
