LRT transported nearly 80% more passengers in 2025, still far from expected capacity

[Photo: Renato Marques]

The Light Rapid Transit (LRT) carried 79.9% more passengers in 2025 than in the previous year, according to official statistics. Figures released by the company show that the average daily passenger count rose from 14,675 in 2024 to 26,400 in 2025.

Driving this growth were the opening of two new lines at the end of 2024 – Seac Pai Van and Hengqin – and an increase in passenger volume on the Taipa line.

In December 2025, the LRT recorded an average daily passenger load of 27,600, 19.5% higher than in 2024. By that time, all current lines were already in operation.

Despite this result, December also saw a significant month-over-month drop (-15.3%) compared with November, when the number of passengers transported per day peaked at 32,600, the highest figure ever recorded since the LRT began operating paid services and very close to the level recorded during the trial month, when rides were offered free of charge.

Still, the system remains far below its designed capacity. Initially, the Taipa line was projected to carry 8,000 passengers per hour per direction (pphpd), and later, in 2020, this capacity was increased to 14,200pphpd. This means current daily usage is still below the estimated one-hour capacity.

The increase in LRT usage in 2025 was likely also driven by rising passenger traffic at Hengqin Port, as the LRT is the preferred transport option for travelers without private vehicles.

According to authorities, by 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 28, 2025, total cross-border passenger trips through Hengqin Port had exceeded 30 million this year, a 32.9% year-on-year increase. This marked the first time the port reached this volume within a single calendar year, setting a new historical record.

The report also noted that mainland travelers were the primary driver of growth, with about 20 million mainland passenger trips recorded at Hengqin Port in 2025, up 25.8% year-on-year.

Airport passengers drop 1.6% last year

The number of passengers handled by Macau International Airport (MIA) in 2025 decreased by 1.6% compared with the previous year.

According to a report from the MIA company, “In 2025, due to the surrounding economic environment and certain uncertainties, passenger traffic fell short of expectations during the first half of the year and the summer holiday period, resulting in an overall decrease of 1.6% in annual passenger traffic compared with the previous year. However, cargo volume achieved year-on-year growth of 1.08%.”

In total, the airport handled more than 7.52 million passengers and recorded over 58,000 flight movements. The report also noted a 26% increase in international routes and a 7% rise in international passenger traffic compared with the previous year.