Airport sees modest Q3 passenger decline

Macau International Airport handled nearly 1.89 million passengers in the third quarter of 2025, down 6.3% from just over 2 million a year earlier, according to operator Macau International Airport Company Limited (CAM).

The decline was largely attributed to fewer mainland Chinese travelers, the airport’s main source market.

Despite the drop, September passenger numbers rose 3.9% year on year to 555,730, partially offsetting steeper declines of 6.9% in August and 13.1% in July.

Total traffic for the first nine months reached nearly 5.5 million passengers, down 4.3% from the same period in 2024, representing about 76% of the comparable pre-pandemic level in 2019. This contrasts with Macau’s overall visitor arrivals, which have recovered to over 98% of pre-Covid levels.

Data from the Statistics and Census Service shows arrivals from Taiwan and South Korea – the airport’s second- and third-largest markets – rose 10.3% and 6.2% respectively, while mainland arrivals fell 8.3% to 1.45 million.

Special debit card to attract Koreans

The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has partnered with KB Kookmin Card and Mastercard Korea to launch the “KB Kookmin Travelers Check Card – Macao Edition,” offering Korean travelers exclusive discounts on Macao tourism products. Cardholders can access benefits for flights, hotels, dining, and entertainment, including residency shows, with more offers to be added.

The launch was accompanied by a lifestyle video featuring Korean actor Chae Jong-hyeop, produced with Marie Claire Korea. KB Kookmin Card is also promoting the card online, with opportunities for participants to win free round-trip tickets to Macao. Special physical cards featuring iconic Macao landmarks were issued to mark the occasion.

Korean arrivals to the city rose 12% year-on-year to 382,494 through September. MGTO continues targeted initiatives, including travelogues, media collaborations, and promotions for Millennials and Gen Z.