Air Macau has backtracked on a decision to lower its baggage allowance for economy class passengers from 25 kilograms to 23 kilograms. Instead, Macao’s flagship carrier will now boost the weight limit to 32 kilograms starting from 17 September.
The sudden policy shift comes after social media users criticised the company’s original announcement last Thursday, in which it said it would reduce the luggage weight limit for economy class passengers and allow them to carry only one piece of check-in baggage.
At the time, some social media responded by stating that they would choose to fly from other destinations such as Hong Kong or with other carriers such as Starlux and Tiger Airways.
Under revised baggage rules announced yesterday, the weight limit for each economy class flyer has been bumped up by 7 kilograms. However, the one checked-in luggage per passenger rule remains in place.
Updates have also been made to other passenger classes, including premium economy class members whose baggage limit has been increased from 30 kilograms to two pieces of luggage that can each weigh a maximum of 32 kilograms, but with the combined total capped at 50 kilograms.
As for business class flyers, their baggage weight limit has been modified from 40 kilograms to two pieces of luggage that can each weigh 32 kilograms, with the maximum limit set at 64 kilograms.
[See more: Air Macau posted a loss of almost 400 million yuan in the first half of 2025]
Economy, premium economy and business passengers who are Phoenix Miles members are also allowed to check-in one additional piece of luggage. For economy and premium economy class flyers, this means one bag weighing no more than 25 kilograms. Business passengers are permitted an extra bag of 32 kilograms.
Meanwhile, infant passengers under the age of two are permitted to have one piece of luggage that weighs no more than 25 kilograms checked-in under their name, an increase from the 10 kilogram limit that was originally imposed.
In its statement, Air Macau noted that the changes were made in order to better align with the baggage allowance policy in the international civil aviation sector. The carrier added that it was shifting from a weight-based luggage policy to one that is centred around the number of pieces of baggage being taken on-board.
Air Macau currently operates routes across 27 destinations in countries such as mainland China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
In recent years, the carrier has struggled financially, posting consecutive losses of several hundred million patacas during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the company’s recent mid-year financial report, it lost 386 million yuan (US$54 million) in the initial six months of this year, an increase of 2.11 percent year-on-year.
Further challenges await Air Macau, as the SAR government passed the Civil Aviation Activity Law earlier this year, which will gradually end the company’s monopoly over the local civil aviation sector by allowing other operators to establish a base in Macao.
