Macau Daily Times
3rd Feb 2008
by Nigel Huxtable
A second direct service from Singapore began flying into Macau's international airport last night with a third carrier reportedly on its way.
Jetstar Asia's first flight from Singapore touched down last night just before 6pm and was welcomed by a host of local government and aviation officials.
The company, which is 40 percent owned by Australia's Qantas airline group, will operate a daily service too and from Singapore, matching the existing Tiger Airways service.
The growing profile of Macau in the region is attracting low cost airlines that see the city as an emerging tourism destination and a potential hub for Southern China traffic.
Last year visitors arriving from Singapore rose by 50 percent, to 189,000 making it Macau's ninth largest source of tourists.
Of the 5.49 million travellers that passed through Macau's airport, 24 percent were from South East Asia, a seven point increase over 2006.
With a network of 14 other Asian routes, Jetstar also intend to offer travellers from countries such as Indonesia a route to Macau.
“Many people from Jakarta are interested in coming to Macau,” said Raphael Saw, commercial head at the airline.
“This will give them a route to get there as well as giving Indonesians living in Macau an option to get home.”
The service also provides another link to Australia with Jetstar Asia, sister to the country's domestic airline of the same name, flying from Singapore to Cairns via Darwin. A further Melbourne to Singapore flight via Darwin is also shortly to be announced.
The SAR's low cost airline, Viva Macau, headed by Con Korfiatis who helped set up Jetstar Asia, will also operate a number of charter services direct to Cairns, Australia over the Chinese New Year.
Singapore Airline's subsidiary, Silk Air is also planning to offer a direct flight from its base shortly, said Simon Chan, director of the Civil Aviation Authority.
Last night 159 passengers arrived on the Jetstar flight including Singapore media and travel agents.
Kiat Tan from Dynasty Travel International said her company was putting on large scale tours to both Macau and Hong Kong to take advantage of the growing interest from Singapore travellers.
“Macau has had a lot of promotion in Singapore, it is seen as the Las Vegas of the East,” she said.
“In March I am bringing over a group of 100 tourists to visit Hong Kong and then come and stay at the Venetian.”
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