Seizing on the opportunities created by the launch of weekend charter flights between Taiwan and China, Air Macau (澳門航空) said it was ready to promote Macau as a destination in its own right with attractive offers, Jo Wu, manager of the airline’s marketing department, said yesterday.
The weekend charter flights are scheduled to begin on Friday, based on accords signed in Beijing on June 13 by Taiwan and China. A total of 36 flights will be operated by Taiwanese and Chinese carriers on the direct route.
Passengers traveling between the two sides of the strait on weekends will no longer have to go via Hong Kong or Macau.
However, in order to sustain the Taiwan-Macau route — on which Air Macau operates 12 flights daily — Wu said the carrier was offering different packages to promote Macau as more than just a transit point.
“We at Air Macau hope that the packages and offers will enhance Macau’s tourism industry,” Wu said. “Air Macau must make greater efforts to promote Macau amid the launch of the cross-strait nonstop charter flights.”
Wu mentioned a package that offers a discount of NT$1,000 (US$33) to each passenger traveling in groups of four, saying the deal had been well received last month and that the airline would continue the promotional offer.
In addition, starting today, Air Macau passengers who buy flight and accommodation packages will have the option to visit Hong Kong Disneyland for an extra NT$1,900 (US$62.50), which covers one-way transportation from Macau to Hong Kong, a shuttle bus service between the Hong Kong pier and Disneyland, and admission, she said.
“Hong Kong and Macau must work together in light of the changing market,” Wu said.
Discounting fears that the direct charter flights could squeeze out Air Macau, Gary Yang, general manager of the airline’s Taiwan marketing and sales division, said it had no plans to cut the number of flights on the Taiwan-Macau route.
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