Premium air terminal debut in Macau to ease travel to HK and Zhuhai airport

A high-end dual-city air terminal officially opened at Macau's MGM Cotai on Wednesday, offering direct check-in and transport links to both Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and Zhuhai Jinwan Airport.

Jointly set up by HKIA and Zhuhai airport, the  “MGM Hong Kong International Airport City Terminal” provides self-service check-in, flight information and different transport services to both airports.

Operating daily from 9am to 6.30pm,  travellers can reach HKIA via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in about 90 minutes, or to Zhuhai Airport in 60 minutes.

Speaking at the opening, Vivian Cheung Kar-fay, Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Authority, stated the new terminal aims to capture Macau's growing high-end travel market and strengthen connectivity. 

To attract more travelers from the Greater Bay Area (GBA), Cheung revealed plans to extend the intermodal service network, increasing the total number of city terminals from the current 38 to 50 by 2027.

In his speech, Kenneth Feng Xiaofeng, President and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited, expressed confidence that the convenient check-in service at the new terminal could encourage international transit passengers—especially those eligible for 144 or 240-hour visa-free policies—to extend their stays in Macau.

Comprehensive cross-border transportation options

Chapman Fong Shiu-man, the authority's deputy director of operations, explained that the new terminal extends Hong Kong and Zhuhai's airport services to Macau's core cultural and commercial areas, enhancing the efficiency of cross-border travel among Hong Kong, Macau, and Zhuhai. 

Fong reported that the new terminal offers 44 cross-border bus services, with 20 buses departing from Macau to Hong Kong Airport. 

Despite a scheduled departure roughly every 30 minutes, he noted that buses could leave immediately if enough passengers are present, minimizing unnecessary wait times.

While baggage drop-off is not yet available at the terminal, Albert Yau, General Manager of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai Airport Management Company, confirmed that plans are in place to gradually introduce baggage check-in services.

Yau expressed hope that the facility would become a key travel node, enhancing cross-border convenience and fostering closer regional cooperation within the GBA.