Air Macao, the flag-ship air carrier in the special administrative region, plans to open 52 extra flights for the upcoming Chinese lunar New Year, local media reported Monday.

Macao Daily News, the leading local Chinese newspaper, quoted sources from the airline as saying that the extra flights in the period between Jan. 24 and Feb. 3 will cover foreign and domestic tourism destinations including Seoul, Beijing, Taipei, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guilin.

The airline will also resume the operation to Bangkok, the sources told the newspaper.

Air Macao logged a record operating revenue of 2.4 billion patacas (US$300 million) for 2005, when it handled 2.1 million passengers and 150,000 tons of cargo, serving 18 destinations across Asia.

(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2006)