VIVA Macau, the international low-fare airline of choice for Macau and the Pearl River Delta, has gained formal recognition from the Civil Aviation Authority of Macau Special Administration Region (Macau) with the award of an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC).

Andrew Pyne, Chief Executive of VIVA Macau, said: We are delighted to be able to announce the award of the Air Operator’s Certificate. Viva Macau is now ready to offer the Macau community more choice, more direct flights, more destinations and, most importantly of all, lower fares.

The award of the AOC marks a significant milestone in the development of VIVA Macau, and in the enhancement of Macau’s status as an emerging regional aviation hub.

Supporting Macau’s development as a major aviation hub for the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region has always been a key objective for VIVA Macau. Receiving the AOC now clears the way for us to begin operations in December. We will be announcing fares, schedules and destinations within the next few days. Whilst Macau is our primary focus we aim to broaden customer choice throughout the wider Pearl River Delta. Today marks an important step in the liberalization of Pearl River Delta air services links. That has to be very good news for the consumer, said Mr Pyne.

Currently VIVA Macau operates two aircraft, one Boeing 767-200ER and one Boeing 767-300, both wide-bodied aircraft with a range of up to 12 hours from Macau, extending the city’s aviation reach beyond the East Asian region as far as Australia, the Middle East and Europe.

VIVA Macau will focus on building a strong and profitable global network of air services for this city which will help underpin both Macau`s tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) growth, supporting the SAR government’s key economic policy initiatives, concluded Mr Pyne.