New Macau carriers strengthen management as they get ready to launch services
Macau long-haul leisure carrier Viva Macau has recruited a top executive from Qantas Airways, while another Macau start-up, low-cost airline Macau Asia Express, is appointing as its chief executive former EasyJet chief operating officer Ed Winter.
"As of next week I will be working full-time as chief executive, even though there are still a few contractual issues to be ironed out," says Winter.
Air Macau owns 51% of Macau Asia Express while the remaining 49% of the carrier is held by a company 64%-owned by Shun Tak and 36% by China National Aviation (CNAC). Macau casino entrepreneur Stanley Ho controls Shun Tak and CNAC is also a major shareholder in Air Macau.
The shareholders originally planned to launch Macau Asia Express in this year's fourth quarter, but Winter says it is now aiming to start in next year's second quarter with two leased aircraft. At the end of the second year of operation it will have 24 aircraft in total, he says.
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| Viva Macau is recruiting as it prepares launch |
"As for aircraft, there was an assumption made by shareholders that we would go for Airbus. But instead we are going through a detailed evaluation of the Boeing 737-800 versus the Airbus A320," he says.
Macau Asia Express plans to have around 70% of its capacity devoted to mainland China routes and the rest on routes to other Asian countries, adds Winter.
While Macau Asia Express plans to operate short-range aircraft, Viva Macau is looking further afield.
Viva Macau is a long-haul leisure carrier and its chief executive Andrew Pyne says it expects to receive an air operator's certificate in time to launch in "in mid to late October" with services from Macau to the Maldives and Indonesia's capital Jakarta.
Viva Macau will be leasing two Boeing 767s from AWAS and the first aircraft arrived in Macau on 28 August. The airline has also appointed Con Korfiatis as chief operating officer and chief financial officer.
Korfiatis was previously in a business development role at Qantas based in Sydney and he is also the former chief operating officer of Singapore low cost-carrier Jetstar Asia, a position he left in early 2005.
Source: Flight International
