The land approval for the reclamation and expansion project of Macau International Airport was officially obtained on October 3rd, indicating that Macau's civil aviation industry is about to enter a new stage of development. The project aims to expand the capacity of the apron through land reclamation, add aircraft parking spaces and quick departure lanes, and reserve a 95 meter wide waterway to meet the growing demand for air traffic.

It is reported that the reclamation project will be located between the runway artificial island and the taxiway bridge, with a planned reclamation area of over 129 hectares. The construction of new facilities will significantly enhance the carrying capacity of Macau International Airport, with an expected annual passenger reception capacity of 15 million, laying a solid foundation for the comprehensive improvement of airport operation capacity.

Looking back at the project process, as early as 2010, the Civil Aviation Administration of the Macau SAR Government and Macau International Airport Corporation (CAM) initiated the preparation of the "Macau International Airport Overall Development Plan". After years of effort, the plan was approved by the Macau SAR government in 2016 and an expansion application was submitted to the central government in 2017. After multiple rounds of approval and planning adjustments, the project was finally approved by the central government in 2022.

At present, CAM has completed the environmental and flood baseline monitoring work before construction, and submitted monitoring reports to relevant government departments and mainland institutions. At the same time, the company has also submitted a "reclamation and apron engineering plan" to the relevant authorities and has obtained feasibility opinions.

According to the construction plan, the entire land reclamation and expansion project will be carried out in an orderly and zoning manner. After the completion of land reclamation, the construction of apron expansion will be carried out from the first half of 2026 to the second half of 2028. During this period, two new sliding bridges will be built in 2027 and the existing ones will be demolished in 2028. The entire project is expected to be fully completed in the second half of 2030.

This expansion project will not only enhance the operational and passenger reception capabilities of Macau International Airport, but also inject new impetus into the sustainable development of Macau's civil aviation industry. With the continuous advancement of the project, Macau International Airport will become an important aviation hub connecting various parts of the world, providing strong support for Macau's economic development and international exchanges.Editor/Cheng Ting