Macau and Japan have formally signed a new air services agreement that removes all restrictions on capacity except for flights to Tokyo.

Previously, Macau's carriers could operate scheduled services to all major airports in Japan with the exception of Tokyo, which had to be served on a charter basis.

Under the new agreement, which was signed yesterday, Macau's carriers are allowed to have scheduled services to Tokyo with limits on capacity, says the Macau Government. It does not say what the cap is.

Capacity restrictions on other international points in Japan have also been lifted under the agreement, and each side can designate more than one carrier.

The two sides initialled the agreement in mid-2009 but only signed it yesterday.

Air Macau, which flies on the Macau-Osaka Kansai route, plans to commence a thrice-weekly scheduled service on the Macau-Tokyo Narita route on 28 March, says the government.

It will be competing on the route against Viva Macau, which operates on the route with a regular charter service.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news