Macao airport eyeing air cargo market

With a consistent effort to boost the freighter service by airline companies, the Macao International Airport recorded the highest monthly cargo transport of 19,800 tons in June.

The airport's statistics showed that the total cargo volume accounted for 94,000 tons in the first half of this year, representing a momentum increase of 41 percent over the same period last year and greatly exceeding the designed capacity of the airport's ground facilities for cargo transport.

With an area of 8,000 square meters for cargo handling, the airport received 70 percent of the cargo from charter freighter service by airline companies.

Facing a mounting pressure from the passenger transport, the local carrier Air Macao is becoming more active in tapping the aircargo service market. It launched two freighter routes in the second quarter linking up Shanghai and Nanjing in the mainland with Taipei, which is separated from the mainland by the Taiwan Straits. The new business has broadened Macao airport's radiating effect to China's eastern and northern markets.

Meanwhile, Russia's Vim Airlines has recently signed an agreement with the Macao airport on the launching of charter cargoroutes to Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States, which further enhanced the airport's role as a regional transportation hub.

Taking its geographic advantage in the Pearl River Delta region,which has evolved into one of the world's major manufacturing centers, Macao Airport has painted a blueprint of actively promoting the air cargo service, especially for daily commodity products.

Source: Xinhua