Macau, a small city west of Hong Kong of just 400,000 people, did not have air services until 1996, with Macau International Airport was opened. Macau residents has to take ferries to Hong Kong and then fly to other places of the world.
The Macanese Government decided to build their own airport in 1980's. Its airport is of very special design, with a runway of over 3000m in length reclaimed offshore east of Taipa. There are 2 taxiways at the ends of the runway connecting to the main apron area, which is a reclaimed land on eastside of Taipa. If fact the airport is larger than the Macau peninsula!
Air Macau, Macau's only flag carrier, was set up in 1994. Its fleet consists of only A320 & A321, and flies to only Asian destinations. It flies to many China destinations, as well as Taipei & Kaohsiung of Taiwan. Air Macau consists of many shareholders, like TAP of Portugal, China National Aviation Corp (CNAC), STDM of Macau, which is the only gambling franchise holder of Macau from 1962 to 2002, and is the shareholder of Turbojet, the largest Macau - Hong Kong ferry operator.
Because of politicial issues, there is no direct air services between China and Taiwan. Air Macau makes excellent use of this point, so operating many routes between Taiwan and China via Macau, which there is no change of aircraft itself and only change of flight numbers. This and short connection time due to low passenger amount of Macau Airport greatly reduces travelling time between Taiwan and China, so it is very popular among passengers and cargo customers alike.
Because of low usage and low fee of Macau Airport, many 2nd-tier airlines, like Angel Airlines of Thailand, use Macau Airport instead of Hong Kong to lower cost & hence lower fare to attract passengers. These routes are quite popular among Hong Kong residents, though passengers have to take Hong Kong - Macau ferries of at least HK$100 (US$13) and trip of 1 hour and then buses to the airport.
The cancelled Macau - Lisbon route operated by TAP Portugal is the most extraordinary route of Macau Airport. Its passenger amount is so low that even single aisle of 1 flight per week is enough for the route! On the contrary, Cathay Pacific operates 18 departures of B747 between London & Hong Kong, and there are 2 more airlines, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, operates daily direct widebody flights between Hong Kong and London.