Viva Macau Airlines suspends operations on 28-Mar-2010; AOC terminated

Macau Civil Aviation Authority terminated Viva Macau's Air Operator's Certificate, after the carrier cancelled all services on 28-Mar-2010 due to its failure to pay for fuel over the past three days (Macau Daily Times/SAPA/Japan Times/RTHK, 28-Mar-2010). The Authority stated it terminated the AOC due to the increasing number of affected passengers by the carrier's flight cancellations and the carrier's "poor attitude" since the problem arose. The decision means that the LCC is no longer a public air transport operating entity or authorised to sell tickets, although the carrier's business licence, however, reportedly remains active, and the carrier is still able to conduct commercial activity. The Macau Government, which injected approximately USD25 million into the airline earlier this year, stated it was disappointed with Viva Macau and regretted the cancellations, adding that it plans to take legal action to recover the loan. Meanwhile, Macau's Civil Aviation Authority has formally requested Air Macau to terminate Viva Macau's sub-concession contract with immediate effect, to "protect the public interest", having assessed the influences to the sustainable development of Macau's tourism industry.

Macau Civil Aviation Authority: "The SAR government is highly concerned about the negative impact the Viva Macau incident has brought to passengers and society. Since last Friday when the company suspended the flights because of outstanding fuel debts, we've been contacting the company and urging it to carry out its commercial liability. But Viva Macau didn't cooperate with us and even didn't give the government necessary information including the passenger name lists, which slowed down our progress in providing assistance to those being affected," Chan Weng Hong, President. Source: Macau Daily, 28-Mar-2010.