“Poor attitude” and grave financial problems affecting the public interest has led the Macau SAR government to terminate Viva Macau’s operation contract. The financially strapped budget carrier cancelled or delayed 10 flights since Friday, March 26, 2010 (see news).
This means it is no longer a public air transport operating company and is no longer authorized to sell tickets.
In the past days, Viva Macau’s inability to settle its fuel bills and purchase fuel saw scores of Macau residents and transit passengers from Hongkong stranded at the Macau International Airport.
At a press conference called by the Tourism Crisis Management Office yesterday, Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) president, Chan Weng Hong, announced that the SAR government had formally requested Air Macau to terminate Viva Macau’s sub franchise contract with immediate effect. He said they were greatly concerned about the incident’s negative impact, and despite calls to the airline to honour its commitment, the official said it proved uncooperative and did not furnish any passenger name lists “which slowed down our progress in providing assistance to those being affected”.
Viva Macau has yet to release a statement on the state of affairs.
Chan Weng Hong added that legal action will be taken regarding the MOP200 million (US$12 million) loan granted to the low-cost carrier between 2008 and 2009.
The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has set up a hotline 853 2833 3088 to field queries, while the SAR government is helping purchase return tickets for Macau residents stranded overseas and also fund tourists to return to their points of origin such as Tokyo, Sydney and Hanoi. Transit passengers have had their visas automatically extended.
Viva Macau remains a registered company and can still reapply for an operating license once its financial condition stabilises, said AACM president Chan. "It still has business opportunities in Macau as long as it meets the requirements."
Margie T Logarta
