Macao business aviation exhibition begins

Eyeing high-end business and private aircraft sectors, the 13th Macau Business Aviation Exhibition kicked off on Friday, providing an important platform for domestic and international companies to showcase their products and expand market reach.

Held at the Macau International Airport's apron, the exhibition will remain open to the industry professionals for the first two days, featuring a business aviation financial forum and educational seminar, while it will be open to the public on Sunday, the last day.

Pun Wa-kin, president of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Macao Special Administrative Region government, said, "The exhibition offers a valuable opportunity for in-depth exchange and collaboration within the business aviation sector."

"As Macao hosts more international events and welcomes more high-profile visitors amid economic recovery, I believe improvements to airport facilities and an increase in flight availability will further propel the growth of our business and private aviation industries," Pun said.

In early October, the Macau International Airport secured government land approval for a reclamation and expansion project, with construction expected to start by the end of the year.

Data from the city's airport indicated that most of the pandemic-affected routes have resumed operations, and some airlines have deployed wide-body aircraft, signaling a rise in the number of passengers.

In the first 10 months of this year, the airport welcomed 6.34 million passengers, an increase of around 57 percent compared to the same period last year.

Flight operations totaled 49,000, up nearly 50 percent year-on-year.

Travelers with international passports accounted for 15 percent of total arrivals at the airport in the first three quarters, marking a 1.1-fold increase on a yearly basis.

Among the highlights of the exhibition is Air China's B-919Y, the domestically produced C919 aircraft, which has made its debut presence at the event.

B-919Y is the second C919 delivered to the airline, and made its inaugural flight from Beijing to Macao on Thursday.

C919 is the country's first large passenger jet developed with independent intellectual property rights according to international standards. Following its first commercial flight in May last year, 12 C919 aircraft are currently in commercial operation.

Besides showing the latest technologies and achievements in the aviation sector worldwide, the exhibition also serves as a valuable platform for Chinese aviation to reach global markets, said Cui Xiaofeng, a director of Air China.

The event plays an important role in strengthening the business aviation industry chain of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, promoting sustainable growth in the region's aviation sector, Wang Zhongfu, deputy general manager of China Aviation Supplies Holding Co.