TRANSPORT | Airport with 6.6 pct more passengers in first half year

The Macau International Airport (MIA) handled over 2.78 million passengers up until
June 30, an increase of 6.6 percentage points compared to the same period of last year. Over 27,000 aircraft movements were recorded, a 6.9 pct growth compared to last year.
According to a press release issued by MIA, the average daily passenger traffic at the local airport in June 2015 reached 15,000. More than 450,000 passengers were registered throughout the month, an increase of 3.9 pct compared to the same period of 2014.
Regarding passenger markets, MIA stresses there was a positive growth in the first half of the year. Though the Korean market recorded decline by the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, passenger numbers of South and North East Asia still recorded a growth of 18.8 pct while Taiwanese routes recorded a slower growth by 0.6 pct, and mainland Chinese routes recorded a slight drop by 1.3 pct in passenger volume.
In order to provide more holiday destination options for travelers, some airlines will add more frequent flights during the summer holidays. Charter flights to the Japanese city of Okinawa are expected to enrich travel options for passengers. MIA also highlighted that Jetstar Pacific Airlines plans to launch a service between Ho Chi Minh and Macau in August this year. Other new routes are said to be in the works.