The director of Macau’s Civil Aviation Authority (AACM), Pun Wa Kin, said that in the first 10 months of this year, the number of private charter flights to and from the city was 734, which was only 30% of the pre-pandemic level.
Speaking to media at the Macau Public Aviation Exhibition on Friday, Pun noted that recovery in Macau was well underway although it would take some time before reaching 2019 numbers.
“As an international tourist city, the development of Macau’s aviation industry is very important,” he said.
“Compared to before the epidemic, the number of private business charter flights has only recovered to 30%, but compared to the 56 flights recorded in 2022, the situation this year has already improved significantly.”
Pun added that the aviation industry is moving towards pre-pandemic pace, thanks to the active promotion of the government and the business sector.
After Macau’s new gaming law came into effect on 1 January, gaming concessionaires have opened dedicated gaming zones for foreign visitors, with reports they are again using private chartered flights to transport high-end foreign travellers to the SAR.
In an interview with IAG in June, Sands China President, Dr Wilfred Wong, said, “We have been using private jets, and we have been doing a lot more overseas promotion, using our overseas offices to really try and get these customers here.”