A New Milestone for the Development of MIA: Land Concession Granted for Expansion and Reclamation Project

With strong support from the Central Government and Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government, Macau International Airport (MIA) officially obtained the land concession on 3rd  October 2024 for its reclamation and expansion project. Construction is expected to commence by the end of year 2024 and be completed in the second half of 2030.

The initiation of this project marks a new development milestone for the civil aviation industry in Macau. The reclamation works at MIA primarily involve land reclamation in the sea area between the artificial islands of the runway and the existing taxiways to increase apron capacity by creating additional aircraft stands and constructing a runway for rapid take-off, while reserving a 95-meter-wide water passage between the artificial island and the aircraft apron. The new facilities will significantly enhance the capacity of the passenger terminal and general aviation facilities. Upon completion of the entire expansion project in 2030, the annual passenger handling capacity of MIA is projected to reach 15 million, resulting in a comprehensive enhancement in the airport’s operational capabilities.

Enhancing Airport Facilities to Meet Future Development Needs

In response to the rapid growth of the local tourism industry and changes in air passenger structure, Macau International Airport must enhance its facilities to accommodate the increasing passenger demand, aligning with the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. As early as 2010, the Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) of the SAR Government and Macau International Airport Company Limited (CAM) collaborated to formulate the “Macau International Airport Master Plan (the Master Plan)”. In 2016, the Master Plan was approved by the SAR Government who submitted the application to the Central in 2017 for airport expansion plan, which included phases of the land reclamations. The official approval for this project has been received from the Central Government in 2022.

Following the approval for the land reclamation project, CAM has maintained close coordination and communication with various government departments, including AACM, Land and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU), Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA), Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), and Cartography and Cadastre Bureau (DSCC), to progressively undertake preliminary preparations such as tenders of engineering consultancy services, concession issue of land use, hydrologic and environmental monitoring work, plans for the reclamation and apron, and tender for “MIA Expansion Project - Construction Works for Reclamation and Apron”. At present, the hydrologic and environmental monitoring work prior to the construction phase has been completed, while CAM has submitted relevant monitoring reports to the pertinent government departments and relevant institution of the Mainland of China. Additionally, CAM has submitted the plans for the reclamation and apron and received favourable feasibility opinions. The planned reclamation area exceeds 129 hectares, and CAM is actively coordinating with relevant government departments to update the airport boundaries to incorporate the reclamation area into MIA, and to modify the land concession contracts to facilitate the expansion project.

Commitment to Safety

According to the construction plan, the expansion and reclamation project will be conducted in an orderly manner across various reclamation areas, with some work scheduled for nighttime to minimize disruption to daily airport operations. Following the land reclamation, the construction of apron expansion will take place from the first half of 2026 to the second half of 2028.

During this timeframe, two new taxiways will be constructed in 2027, upon completion the existing taxiways will be dismantled in 2028. The entire reclamation project is expected to be completed by 2030, there will be an increase of aircraft stands and related ancillary facilities to meet future airport development needs. Amid ongoing operations, the reclamation and expansion project at Macau International Airport faces multiple challenges. Safety management is of utmost importance. During construction, the airport will coordinate with various operational entities to effectively manage the construction scope and schedule, ensuring the normal operation of existing flights while safeguarding the safety of airport staff and passengers. These challenges do not only test the construction management capabilities of the airport team, but also impose higher demands on operational efficiency. While ensuring the smooth progress of construction, maintaining service quality and flight punctuality remains a critical issue that the airport must address. Macau International Airport team is fully committed to ensuring the orderly advancement of the reclamation and expansion project.