Air Macau to share its key to the city - Business

Air Macau, the only carrier operating from the former Portuguese colony, plans to end its monopoly by sharing traffic rights with airlines that want to start flights from the city. Air Macau has government permission to talk to carriers that want to start up in the city, said Simon Chan, acting president of Macau's Civil Aviation Authority, in an interview at an aviation conference here yesterday. 'As to how Air Macau will co-operate with them, that's outside the Government's control,' Mr Chan said. Air Macau could set up a joint venture with other companies or share its rights, he said. Air Macau, which was given a 25-year, exclusive operating licence in the city in 1995, now flies to 14 destinations in China and South-East Asia. Shun Tak Holdings, controlled by casino tycoon Stanley Ho, and other companies such as WOW!Macau, want to tap increasing travel to Macau as the city's casinos expand and attract more tourists. Shun Tak, based in Hong Kong, was in talks with Air Macau and Virgin Blue about setting up a budget carrier in Macau, said Shun Tak managing director Pansy Ho. Air Macau had applied to the city's government to set up the new carrier, she said. more