Macau Air Transport Company

Macau Air Transport Company (Macao Air Transport Company) was a subsidiary of Cathay Pacific Airways that operated seaplane service between Macau and Hong Kong from 1948 to 1961.

Macau Air Transport Company
Founded1948
Ceased operations1961 (1967 as Macau Air Transport Company (HK) Ltd)
HubsMacau - Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal
Hong Kong - Kai Tak Airport
Fleet size2 (1 as Macau Air Transport Company (HK) Ltd from 1961 to 1967)
Destinations2
Parent companyCathay Pacific Airways
HeadquartersHong Kong

Formed in 1948, the airline operated 2 Consolidated PBY Catalina seaplanes from Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, Macau (old location using a ramp into the harbour) to Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong. Miss Macao, one of the MATCO's seaplane was lost in a hijacking.[1]

In 1960 ownership by Cathay Pacific ended with Roger Lobo and Stanley Ho as new owners with the airline renamed as Macau Air Transport Company (Hong Kong) Limited.[2] The introduction of a new runway at Kai Tak and conditions in Macau were the beginning of the end of MATCO and service continued until October 1961 when the airline ceased operations.[3]

The airline remained registered in Hong Kong up to January 1964 and all remaining aircraft were de-registered by 1967.[4]

Fleet

MATCO operated 2 Canadian Vickers CBV-1A Canso (c. 1944 from USAAF as OA-10A Catalina (#44-34081) and later to USN (#68045), later with RCAF and acquired by Cathay Pacific in 1946) in 1948.[5]

With the removal of the Catalina seaplanes, MATCO operated as a freight airline and acquired a new aircraft:

References
  1. http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2008/07/15/seaplanes-to-sail-the-skies-again-in-hong-kong.html
  2. https://industrialhistoryhk.org/macau-air-transport-company-hong-kong-ltd/
  3. http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2008/07/15/seaplanes-to-sail-the-skies-again-in-hong-kong.html
  4. https://industrialhistoryhk.org/macau-air-transport-company-hong-kong-ltd/
  5. http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/Hopton/8058.htm
  6. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19480717-0
  7. http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/catalina.html
  8. https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/pby/68045.html
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