Viva Macau
Encyclopedia
Viva Macau Airlines was a Macanese
long-haul
, low-cost carrier
based at Macau International Airport
. The airline operated flights to Australia
and Asia.
In March 2010, Viva Macau was forced to suspend operations after the Macau government
suddenly ordered Air Macau
to cancel its sub-concession agreement with Viva Macau, alleging that Viva Macau failed to adequately assist passengers affected by flight delays and cancellations. The government then quickly revoked Viva Macau's Air Operator's Certificate
, saying that without a sub-concession, the airline was not compliant with the requirements for public air transport services. The action is currently under appeal in the Macau courts and has raised questions for foreign investors regarding Macau's regulatory environment.
attracted a consortium
of investors to start Air Macau
with the promise of a 25-year monopoly concession. The carrier set up as a connecting airline for flights between China and Taiwan primarily, as well as other Southeast Asia
n countries.
Under a sub-concession arrangement with Air Macau, Viva Macau launched new routes from Macau in 2006, pioneering the concept of LCC-type low-cost, long-haul services. Despite Air Macau holding the exclusive concession on all air routes out of Macau, after lengthy negotiations the government agreed to license the new airline on the condition that any routes Viva Macau wanted to operate had first to be approved by Air Macau.
In the years that followed, Viva Macau expanded service with new routes from Macau to Indonesia
, Vietnam
, Japan and Australia. Viva Macau was named the “New Airline of the Year” in November 2007 by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, due in part to its contribution to the development of the aviation industry and tourism in Macau
, and across Asia.
In September 2009, Viva Macau, was voted in the “Top 10 Budget Airlines” by the readers of SmartTravelAsia.com for the second consecutive year. Also in September 2009, Viva Macau become the first Macau-based airline to receive certification from the Macau Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) for Extended Twin Engine Operations (ETOPS). ETOPS is the global standard for efficient long distance flight operations.
Due to Macau’s limited workforce, the company employed staff from 28 different countries, as well as local labor.
200 million to help improve the airline's sustainability, after taking similar action to rescue Air Macau.
On 28 March 2010, the Civil Aviation Authority of Macau
ordered Air Macau
to cancel its sub-concession agreement with Viva Macau, alleging that Viva Macau failed to adequately assist passengers affected by flight delays and cancellations. The government then quickly revoked Viva Macau's Air Operator's Certificate
, saying that without a sub-concession, the airline was not compliant with the requirements for public air transport services. The action is currently under appeal in the Macau courts and has raised questions for foreign investors regarding Macau's regulatory environment. The Macau SAR government provided assistance to passengers who were stranded because of the suspension of Viva Macau's operations. Viva Macau did plan to resume operations on the 2 April but those plans fell through.
, had concluded a licensing agreement which allowed Viva Macau to operate (since Air Macau owns the air-traffic rights to destinations that Viva Macau intended to fly to). In addition, Viva Macau was negotiating further co-operation with Air Macau in the form of joint marketing or codesharing. The two airlines were not expected to compete with each other while Air Macau continued to concentrate on short-haul full-service routes, especially domestic flights to People's Republic of China
and Republic of China
.
In its short history Viva Macau had changed its destinations depending on consumer demand. The airline also operated a number of charter flights to Japan, including Tokyo. It was likely that their routes would have been expanded in the future (including the possibility of scheduled service to Tokyo via Ibaraki Airport).
aircraft (at 28 March 2010):
Acquisition of more aircraft was planned, building up to a fleet of 10-15 aircraft within five years.
and Premium Class
. Checked luggage is not included in the ticket price for Economy passengers – they may purchase up to 15 kilograms (33.1 lb) of luggage allowance on check-in. Economy offers 32 inches of seat pitch and a buy-on-board meal service. Premium passengers receive 55 inches of seat pitch and free meals as well as 30 kg of checked luggage included in the ticket price.
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
long-haul
Flight length
In aviation, the flight length is defined as the time airborne during a flight.- Domestic :A short-haul domestic flight is commonly categorized into being no longer than 1.5 hours in length, meaning that all domestic flights within a country such as the United Kingdom are short-haul...
, low-cost carrier
Low-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
based at Macau International Airport
Macau International Airport
- Cargo airlines :The following cargo airlines serve Macau International Airport :*Air Macau*EVA Air Cargo*Shanghai Airlines Cargo*Singapore Airlines Cargo- Other Tenants :* Macau Customs Service...
. The airline operated flights to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Asia.
In March 2010, Viva Macau was forced to suspend operations after the Macau government
Government of Macau
The Government of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China , are headed by secretariats or commissioners and report directly to the Chief Executive of Macau. The affairs of the Government are decided by secretaries, who are appointed by the Chief Executive and...
suddenly ordered Air Macau
Air Macau
Air Macau Company Limited is the flag carrier airline of and headquartered in Macau. The airline operates services to 12 destinations in Mainland China, as well as regional international services, from its hub at Macau International Airport.-History:...
to cancel its sub-concession agreement with Viva Macau, alleging that Viva Macau failed to adequately assist passengers affected by flight delays and cancellations. The government then quickly revoked Viva Macau's Air Operator's Certificate
Air Operator's Certificate
An air operator's certificate is the approval granted from a national aviation authority to an aircraft operator to allow it to use aircraft for commercial purposes. This requires the operator to have personnel, assets and system in place to ensure the safety of its employees and the general public...
, saying that without a sub-concession, the airline was not compliant with the requirements for public air transport services. The action is currently under appeal in the Macau courts and has raised questions for foreign investors regarding Macau's regulatory environment.
History
In 1994, the Macau GovernmentGovernment of Macau
The Government of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China , are headed by secretariats or commissioners and report directly to the Chief Executive of Macau. The affairs of the Government are decided by secretaries, who are appointed by the Chief Executive and...
attracted a consortium
Consortium
A consortium is an association of two or more individuals, companies, organizations or governments with the objective of participating in a common activity or pooling their resources for achieving a common goal....
of investors to start Air Macau
Air Macau
Air Macau Company Limited is the flag carrier airline of and headquartered in Macau. The airline operates services to 12 destinations in Mainland China, as well as regional international services, from its hub at Macau International Airport.-History:...
with the promise of a 25-year monopoly concession. The carrier set up as a connecting airline for flights between China and Taiwan primarily, as well as other Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
n countries.
Under a sub-concession arrangement with Air Macau, Viva Macau launched new routes from Macau in 2006, pioneering the concept of LCC-type low-cost, long-haul services. Despite Air Macau holding the exclusive concession on all air routes out of Macau, after lengthy negotiations the government agreed to license the new airline on the condition that any routes Viva Macau wanted to operate had first to be approved by Air Macau.
In the years that followed, Viva Macau expanded service with new routes from Macau to Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, Japan and Australia. Viva Macau was named the “New Airline of the Year” in November 2007 by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, due in part to its contribution to the development of the aviation industry and tourism in Macau
Tourism in Macau
Macau is famous for the blend of Portuguese and Chinese cultures and its gambling industry, which includes Casino Lisboa, Macau, Sands Macau, The Venetian Macao, and Wynn Macau.-External links:*...
, and across Asia.
In September 2009, Viva Macau, was voted in the “Top 10 Budget Airlines” by the readers of SmartTravelAsia.com for the second consecutive year. Also in September 2009, Viva Macau become the first Macau-based airline to receive certification from the Macau Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) for Extended Twin Engine Operations (ETOPS). ETOPS is the global standard for efficient long distance flight operations.
Due to Macau’s limited workforce, the company employed staff from 28 different countries, as well as local labor.
2008 Global Financial Crisis and Viva Macau
After the Global Financial Crisis of 2008, the company struggled financially and the Macau SAR government provided financial support to the airline. During 2008–2009, the Macau SAR government lent Viva Macau MOPMacanese pataca
The pataca is the currency of Macau. It is subdivided into 100 avos , with 10 avos called ho in Cantonese. The abbreviation MOP$ is commonly used....
200 million to help improve the airline's sustainability, after taking similar action to rescue Air Macau.
On 28 March 2010, the Civil Aviation Authority of Macau
Civil Aviation Authority of Macau
The Civil Aviation Authority of Macau is responsible for providing air traffic control services, airport operator and operating licenses to aviation companies operating within the Macau Flight Information Region. It reports to the Secretariat for Transport and Public Works of the Macau Government...
ordered Air Macau
Air Macau
Air Macau Company Limited is the flag carrier airline of and headquartered in Macau. The airline operates services to 12 destinations in Mainland China, as well as regional international services, from its hub at Macau International Airport.-History:...
to cancel its sub-concession agreement with Viva Macau, alleging that Viva Macau failed to adequately assist passengers affected by flight delays and cancellations. The government then quickly revoked Viva Macau's Air Operator's Certificate
Air Operator's Certificate
An air operator's certificate is the approval granted from a national aviation authority to an aircraft operator to allow it to use aircraft for commercial purposes. This requires the operator to have personnel, assets and system in place to ensure the safety of its employees and the general public...
, saying that without a sub-concession, the airline was not compliant with the requirements for public air transport services. The action is currently under appeal in the Macau courts and has raised questions for foreign investors regarding Macau's regulatory environment. The Macau SAR government provided assistance to passengers who were stranded because of the suspension of Viva Macau's operations. Viva Macau did plan to resume operations on the 2 April but those plans fell through.
Partnership with Air Macau
The de-facto national carrier of Macau, Air MacauAir Macau
Air Macau Company Limited is the flag carrier airline of and headquartered in Macau. The airline operates services to 12 destinations in Mainland China, as well as regional international services, from its hub at Macau International Airport.-History:...
, had concluded a licensing agreement which allowed Viva Macau to operate (since Air Macau owns the air-traffic rights to destinations that Viva Macau intended to fly to). In addition, Viva Macau was negotiating further co-operation with Air Macau in the form of joint marketing or codesharing. The two airlines were not expected to compete with each other while Air Macau continued to concentrate on short-haul full-service routes, especially domestic flights to People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
.
Destinations
Fleet
Viva Macau operated the following BoeingBoeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
aircraft (at 28 March 2010):
| Aircraft | In Fleet | Passengers |
|---|---|---|
| Boeing 767-200ER Boeing 767 The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail... |
1 | 210 |
| Boeing 767-300ER Boeing 767 The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail... |
2 | 245 |
Acquisition of more aircraft was planned, building up to a fleet of 10-15 aircraft within five years.
Onboard
Viva Macau operated a two class service – Economy ClassEconomy class
__FORCETOC__Economy class, also called coach class , steerage, or standard class, is the lowest class of seating in air travel, rail travel, and sometimes ferry or maritime travel....
and Premium Class
Business class
Business class is a travel class available on many commercial airlines and rail lines, known by brand names which vary by airline or rail company. In the airline industry, it was originally intended as an intermediate level of service between economy class and first class, but many airlines now...
. Checked luggage is not included in the ticket price for Economy passengers – they may purchase up to 15 kilograms (33.1 lb) of luggage allowance on check-in. Economy offers 32 inches of seat pitch and a buy-on-board meal service. Premium passengers receive 55 inches of seat pitch and free meals as well as 30 kg of checked luggage included in the ticket price.
See also
- Transport in Macau
- Macau International AirportMacau International Airport- Cargo airlines :The following cargo airlines serve Macau International Airport :*Air Macau*EVA Air Cargo*Shanghai Airlines Cargo*Singapore Airlines Cargo- Other Tenants :* Macau Customs Service...
- AirAsia XAirAsia XAirAsia X is a long-haul, budget airline based in Malaysia. The airline is operated by AirAsia X Sdn. Bhd. . It commenced operations on 2 November 2007. Its first service flew from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, to Gold Coast Airport in Australia...