The Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR (AACM) and the Ministry of Transport and the Department of Civil Aviation of Thailand met on 16 September to discuss the development of the air transport market between the two places. The discussions were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere, leading to satisfactory conclusions. The two parties amended certain provisions of the Air Services Agreement (ASA) between Macao and Thailand and signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the following signatories: Acting President of AACM, Mr. Chan Weng Hong and the Director General of the Department of Civil Aviation of Thailand, Mr. Chalor Kotcharat. The amended provisions of the ASA and the new MOU bring more advantangeous conditions to the development of both passenger and cargo businesses between the two places: no limitation on capacity and frequency, exercise of full fifth freedom traffic rights, multiple airline designation and operation of code-sharing services (including same contracting party code share). The Thai side has also designated four airlines to operate the route during the discussions. In accordance with the ASA between Macao and Thailand signed in 1995 and the old MOU, fifth freedom traffic rights could only be exercised on a conditional basis, the frequency was constrained to 7 flights per week per each side and only one single airline could be designated by each side. Since Thailand has always been a famous tourist destination of both Hong Kong and Macao people, with the recent success of the Macau International Airport in attracting the low-cost carrier, Air Asia, to operate the Macao-Bangkok v.v. route as well as the cooperation between Air Macau and Thai Airways in establishing code-sharing services in the near future, the air transport market between the two places has been enlarged. This together with the open policy of individual traveling not only generates more and more Macao people traveling to Thailand but also boost the number of people from Hong Kong and the mainland who travel via Macao to Thailand. The old frequency therefore no longer met the current market need. To cope with the market expansion, the aeronautical authorities of the two places held discussions. The Macao delegates also comprised of the Director of Air Transport and International Relations of AACM, Mr. António Menano and the Consultant of Air Transport and International Relations of AACM, Mr. Ren Jinfang. In addition, the Senior Assistant to Chairman and Director of Marketing Department of CAM-Macau International Airport Company Ltd., Ms. Liu Suning and the Network Planning Executive of Air Macau, Ms. Mavis Chan attended the meeting as observers.
