MGM Resorts' Macau flight lands amid continued Cotai expansion push

An Embraer Legacy 500 operated by MGM Resorts International took off and landed at Macau International Airport on May 12, a brief local movement that nonetheless reflects the company's focus on its Asian operations. The aircraft, tail number N783MM, remained within the vicinity of VMMC, suggesting a repositioning or executive travel within the enclave.

The same week, MGM China highlighted its first-quarter performance, with net revenue up 10% year-on-year to HK$8.8 billion, per its April 29 earnings release [prnewswire.com]. CEO Bill Hornbuckle noted that the company had recently opened 124 new premium suites at MGM Cotai, targeting the mass-market segment, as cited by GGRAsia. The flight may well have been tied to executive oversight of these ongoing improvements.

MGM Resorts maintains a fleet of six business jets, including four Legacy 500s, often used to shuttle high-rollers between Las Vegas and major U.S. cities. But the appearance of one in Macau underscores the importance of the China division, which contributed $273 million in adjusted EBITDAR in the first quarter, despite a slight decline compared to the prior year.