Air Macau set to relaunch Manila route starting July 2

[Photo: Renato Marques]

Air Macau is slated to resume flights between Macau and Manila on July 2, operating five times per week.

The Macau flag carrier will fly the route with Airbus A320 aircraft on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, based on information from aviation tracking service Aeroroutes.

While earlier indications pointed to a July 1 restart, the finalized schedule omits Wednesdays and Saturdays, shifting the effective launch date to July 2.

The daytime flight leaves Macau International Airport at 11:20 a.m. and reaches Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 2:10 p.m. The return trip departs the Philippine capital at 3:10 p.m. and lands back in Macau at 5:40 p.m.

Air Macau halted its scheduled Manila service in August 2024, citing what it called “dynamic adjustments in response to market needs,” though the carrier has not been flying its aircraft to Manila for several years. Throughout the suspension, other carriers such as Cebu Pacific and AirAsia continued flying between the two cities.

Fukuoka and Taiyuan services also returning

The airline will also bring back its Macau–Fukuoka connection, offering flights during July and August 2026. This seasonal service, aimed at summer travelers, marks the route’s first operation since 2020.

On a permanent basis, Air Macau will reinstate the Macau–Taiyuan route with three weekly flights to the capital of Shanxi Province.

Unlike the Fukuoka service, which is limited to summer, the Taiyuan route will continue operating beyond the summer period, providing a lasting travel link to this inland Chinese city.

Network growth across Asia

Air Macau has said it wants to strengthen both international and China-focused connections by bringing back suspended routes and adding frequencies on busy corridors.

Within mainland China, weekly round-trip flights between Macau and Shanghai Hongqiao will rise from 14 to 18, while the Macau–Chengdu Tianfu route will go from 10 to 14 weekly round-trip flights.

Further expansion includes Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province, expected to join the network soon, along with other northeastern cities including Shenyang and Dalian. Northwestern destinations such as Urumqi, Xi’an, and Lanzhou are also being considered.

On international routes, Southeast Asian destinations will see more frequent service.

Daily flights to Bangkok will increase to three, Hanoi to two, and Kuala Lumpur to one. In the Taiwan market, the airline will add four daily flights to Taipei, three to Kaohsiung, and two to Taichung.

The carrier has stated that these changes are intended to accommodate summer travel and family visits for Macau residents while broadening international flight options.