Viva Macau reportedly suspends operations

[Aussie_flyer]

Some news reports circulating that Viva Macau has suspended it's operations. May play havoc with Aussie traveler's Easter holidays!

Macau - Hundreds of people have been left stranded after budget airline Viva Macau cancelled flights because it was unable to pay its fuel bills, a news report said Sunday.

News - World: Airline runs out of fuel: hundreds stranded

 

[Mal]

Not looking good. Their booking system is "currently suspended".

Another article Kyodo News - Story says:

Viva Macau Airlines, Macao's budget air carrier serving the Chinese territory and cities in Australia, Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia, has been grounded by financial difficulties, stranding about 300 travelers at the airport, Macao authorities said Sunday.

 

[moa999]

Also reported to have launched a new website:
Viva Macau launches revamped website - Airline News - etravelblackboard.com

run out of money to pay for fuel:
News - World: Airline runs out of fuel: hundreds stranded

and has had its operating license revoked:
MACAU DAILY TIMES - Viva Macau

 

[Mal]

Also reported to have launched a new website:

Perfect timing! Perhaps it was the cost of IT work that caused them to have issues

BTW - the quote:

Dr Reg Macdonald said, "Macau is becoming a hub buster. Why fly to Hong Kong's airport and take the train into town when it is easier and more affordable to fly direct to Macau on Viva Macau and get the ferry for FREE!"

"What people need to know is that from the time you leave the plane in Macau you can be in Central Hong Kong faster than if you landed in Hong Kong - now that's convenient!" he added.

sounds like a complete fabrication. Having done both the Airport Express and Macau-Hong Kong ferries several times, I can't see this being possible. Helicopter yes. Ferry no!

 

[moa999]

Ben Sandilands says its over.

Viva Macau runs out of money – Plane Talking

 

[straitman]

Whether you use them or not the loss of competition is always sad.

 

[markis10]

Already reported here, although the title of that thread should perhaps be changed to "Viva Macau Given UP" :shock:

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...irfares/viva-macau-given-up-sydney-22355.html

 

[Mal]

Ben Sandilands says its over.

Viva Macau runs out of money – Plane Talking

This morning the airlines’ web site remains open to bookings made by unsuspecting consumers in Australia.

ahh. no. The booking engine was shut down well before the article was published. The website was still operating though, so I assume he didn't try a booking and just assumed.

Whether you use them or not the loss of competition is always sad.

Indeed. Competition is needed!

 

[JohnK]

Whether you use them or not the loss of competition is always sad.

Unfortunately though for the competition to survive it needs customers. And for some reason I don't remember too many reports of AFF'ers, or other websites for that matter, flying Viva Macau.

 

[straitman]

Unfortunately though for the competition to survive it needs customers. And for some reason I don't remember too many reports of AFF'ers, or other websites for that matter, flying Viva Macau.

Absolutely and the only people that I know who flew with them did not give a glowing report.

 

[bossreggie]

My Colleague's brother flew them late last year and said NEVER again!

Seems he was right.

 

[Alanslegal]

""Discount airline Viva Macau has apologised publicly to thousands of air travellers it stranded after aviation authorities grounded the airline on the weekend.

The Macau Authorities cancelled Viva Macau’s Air Operator’s Certificate after the airline failed to pay its fuel bill, leaving passengers bound for Melbourne, Sydney, Tokyo, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in limbo.""

Airline falls from the sky

 

[Mal]

And now they're in the process of winding things up:

Viva Macau begins to wind down operations

Yesterday, the carrier said in a statement that it would stop operations and shut down its office in the island.

"As a direct result of the revocation of the Viva Macau AOC - a globally unprecedented event in international aviation - Viva Macau is now seeking legal advice for an orderly and responsible winding down of the business," says the airline.

 

[samh004]

With no license and no fuel they can’t fly anywhere, so are other airlines taking up the slack for the stranded pax?

I’ll have to look at who flies into Macau, but seems like JQ could think about flying there, promote it as a gambling holiday with a tiny bit of culture perhaps.

 

[markis10]

With no license and no fuel they can’t fly anywhere, so are other airlines taking up the slack for the stranded pax?

I’ll have to look at who flies into Macau, but seems like JQ could think about flying there, promote it as a gambling holiday with a tiny bit of culture perhaps.

They already fly there and even have a gamblers schedule:

Depart SIN at 10PM and Macau at 2.35AM :evil:

 

[samh004]

They already fly there and even have a gamblers schedule:

Depart SIN at 10PM and Macau at 2.35AM :evil:

I see they don’t have a curfew at MFM, but I meant that JQ Australia could start flying the route, and with all the troubles in Vietnam, I wonder if Macau would make a decent hub (of course it would need some expansion).