The new air transport agreement signed Monday by Macau and Taiwan has lifted all restrictions on the number of flights between the two territories, according to the chairman of the Macau Civil Aviation Authority.

“To date there was a limit set on the number of airlines, but from now on carriers can base their decisions on the market’s needs,” said Simon Chang adding that as a result of the new deal new regular flights would be offered to cities other than Taipei and Kaoshiung.

With this agreement Macau and Taiwan officials expect airlines to offer charter flights between Macau and seven cities in Taiwan – Taichung, Hualien, Taitung, Magong, Kinmen, Tainan and Chiayi.

The chairman of the Macau Civil Aviation Authority declined to give an opinion on how many airlines would join the four that currently link Macau to Taiwan (Air Macau, EVA Airways, TransAsia Airways and Mandarin Airlines) but said he hoped they would be low cost.

In 2013 Macau received over 1 million visitors from Taiwan. (macauhub)