News / Taiwan and Macau to sign open skies agreement on the 17th; aviation industry: popular for independent travel

▲ Quaint Macau boasts the advantage of being the “World Heritage site closest to Taiwan.” (Photo / Provided by Macau Tourism Board)

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Taipei

Following the open skies agreement between Taiwan and Japan, flights between Taiwan and Macau (Macao) have also been announced to enter full liberalization. Luo Changshui, Director of the Macau Affairs Office of the Mainland Affairs Council, and Leong Kit Chi, Director of the Macao Economic and Cultural Office, completed the "Air Transport Agreement between Taiwan and Macau" on the 17th.The most significant meaning of this newly signed Taiwan-Macau air pact is that airlines from both sides can independently decide flight frequencies based on market demand, equivalent to the currentopen skiesmodel.

The Civil Aeronautics Administration stated that the new air pact will also include regularly scheduled chartered flights managed under scheduled flight rules. In the future, carriers from both sides will be able to apply to operate scheduled charter flights between Macau and various points in Taiwan such as Taichung, Hualien, Taitung, Makung, Kinmen, Tainan, and Chiayi, with no capacity or frequency restrictions.

Currently, on the Taiwan-Macau passenger routes, Taiwan’s EVA Air operates about 40 flights per week, TransAsia Airways about 35 flights per week, while the Macau side is served by Air Macau with about 35 flights per week. Over the past three years (2011 to 2012), the average passenger load factor on the Taiwan-Macau route was about 70.6%.

▲ Experiencing world-class top-tier hotels is one of the factors that many travelers love about Macau. (Photo / Taken by reporter You...)

Kao Chih-hua, Deputy General Manager of the Public Relations Department at TransAsia Airways, which currently operates flights on the Taiwan-Macau route, said that TransAsia currently has a passenger load factor of about 70–75% on the Taiwan-Macau route and is also stimulating the market through special promotions. Kao also noted that since Macau continues to expand with new resort hotels, in addition to welcoming more airlines to serve travelers after the open skies policy,TransAsia Airways will also plan to strengthen independent travel routes through flight + hotel packages to adapt to the new changes in Macau’s tourism market.。

According to industry insiders operating routes to Macau, due to the high number of flights and low ticket prices between Taiwan and Hong Kong, many Taiwanese travelers actually enter Macau via Hong Kong. Passengers on EVA Air can also utilize dual-point entry and exit between Hong Kong and Macau. In the future, with the opening of the Macau skies, it is believed that more airlines will enter the Taiwan–Macau route, which will likely lead to competitivelow-cost fares, which should be a major benefit for consumers.