Viva Macau considers service to Hanoi

Viva Macau Airlines is looking for the opportunity to fly to Hanoi after two years of operating successful flights to HCMC, the low-cost air carrier’s chief executive officer Reginald Macdonald said.

“We are very keen in starting new service to Hanoi,” Macdonald said in a statement released before Viva Macau inaugurated its new reservations and ticketing office at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel in HCMC on Monday.

Macdonald told the Daily after the opening that Viva Macau was evaluating the Hanoi market and expected to launch flights to the capital city soon.

“We would love to be able to start our service to Hanoi in time for the Tet holiday (Lunar New Year).”

He stressed Vietnam was one of the best markets for Viva Macau and that the airline was looking to further expansion in this market.

“Overall, Vietnam is a country that is very good for us… That’s why we increased our frequency (to HCMC),” he said.

Viva Macau started to fly daily between Macau and HCMC since July this year from its previous four weekly flights. “The number of passengers has almost doubled for Viva Macau’s both flights to and from Vietnam compared to the first half of this year.”

Though Macdonald did not reveal the average seat occupancy of Viva Macau’s flights to and from Vietnam in 2009, he said the load factor of both business and economy-class seats was good and grew significantly.

“I cannot disclose the exact figures but I can say that we are quite happy with the market development and the increase as it is going to the direction that we want,” Macdonald said.

He explained Viva Macau had attracted a lot of tourists. On top of that, business people of small and medium-enterprises in Vietnam are flying with the carrier to Macau to do business and more Chinese businessmen are coming to HCMC with the same purpose.

“So, we see good growth in both segments,” Macdonald said. He referred to the opening of the new office at the Sheraton Saigon as a sign of the carrier’s growing commitment to Vietnam and part of its partnership with the five-star hotel on Dong Khoi Street in downtown HCMC.

Macdonald said Viva Macau and the Sheraton Saigon would cooperate in promoting their services and packages for leisure and business travelers from Macau and China to HCMC.

Macdonald said Viva Macau was about to launch more services to Japan and Australia to offer more connecting flights for passengers departing from HCMC. As scheduled, the airline will commence twice weekly service between Macau and Melbourne from this Wednesday and Sapporo from December 19.

Also on Monday, Viva Macau announced promotional fares starting from US$49 for a single trip between Macau and HCMC.

The Saigon Times Daily

Tags: Vietnam aviation, Vietnam investment