THE new Macau airport, due to open next year, will be a major transit point for international passengers bound for Hong Kong, according to the head of the Macau Civil Aviation Authority.
Jorge Ferreira Guimaroes said that a second Macau ferry terminal - currently being constructed on the new airport site near Taipa island - could be the answer to Kai Tak's capacity problems.
He said that high-level discussions with Hong Kong officials late last year had led to an agreement in principle that passengers would be able to fly in to Macau and then take a high-speed ferry direct to Hong Kong.
''The immigration and customs controls would be conducted in Hong Kong rather than Macau,'' Mr Guimaroes said.
''And then passengers would probably get their check-in luggage returned to them in Hong Kong.'' He said the plan would not only make the 7.3 billion pataca Macau airport more attractive to airlines and passengers, but would ease pressure on Kai Tak airport, which has reached maximum capacity.
However, Hong Kong government officials were reluctant to commit themselves about the plans for Macau.