(Macau, 25 de Julho de 2006) – VIVA Macau - a nova companhia aérea internacional de baixo custo escolhida para representar Macau e o Delta do Rio das Pérolas tem a honra de anunciar a nomeação da Companhia Air Charter International, Ltd como principal Agente de Venda de Bilhetes da VIVA Macau no Japão, e como sua parceira na promoção do território de Macau como grande destino turístico.

A Air Charter International (ACI) está sediada em Tóquio, e é membro da Air Partner PCL, o maior corrector mundial de aviões comerciais e de jactos executivos, que possui escritórios em 13 países e nos 4 continentes.

O Presidente da VIVA Macau, Mr Ngan In Ling, afirmou: “a VIVA Macau escolheu trabalhar em conjunto com a ACI no desenvolvimento do mercado japonês porque esta companhia tem uma forte experiência comprovada nesta área do desenvolvimento de operações de vôos charter, bem como no desenvolvimento de produtos especialmente concebidos e direccionados para os operadores turísticos japoneses que pretendem apostar nos destinos internacionais".

“Estou muito contente pela VIVA Macau ter a oportunidade de trabalhar com um parceiro tão forte quanto a ACI. Esta parceria dará à VIVA Macau a capacidade de chegar ao contacto directo com os turistas japoneses e de reforçar a nossa imagem, enquanto marca, no Japão, mercado crucial para o desenvolvimento do Turismo de Macau ”, acrescentou ainda o Sr. Ngan.

O Presidente da ACI, o Sr. Yoshihiro Obayashi, comentou a propósito deste recente acordo o seguinte: " a ACI dá as boas-vindas ao ínicio das operações da VIVA Macau. Macau é apartir deste momento um destino emocionante no mercado japonês!".

O Sr. Obayashi acrescentou ainda: "A ACI está muito satisfeita por ter sido escolhida pela VIVA Macau no sentido de a ajudar a iniciar uma série de vôos charter apartir de diversas cidades japonesas para Macau. Estes serviços aéreos serão lançados através de uma rede que inclui a maioria dos operadores turísticos japoneses, operadores esses com quem trabalhamos há mais de 35 anos na indústria do Turismo".

A cooperação entre a VIVA Macau e a ACI representa um passo significativo no fortalecimento dos laços entre Macau e o Japão, no que diz respeito ao Turismo e ao Transporte Aéreo, ajudando a diversificar e a expandir o perfil do visitante de Macau.

O Presidente da VIVA Macau disse ainda relativamente a esta questão: "o Japão está a tornar-se num mercado cada vez mais importante para o desenvolvimento do sectores do Turismo, do Lazer e do Entretenimento de Macau, especialmente se pensarmos, que nos próximos meses, abrirão uma série de novos resorts internacionais e centros de convenção no nosso território."

"Espero que esta nossa parceria com a ACI resulte e que traga benefícios para toda a comunidade de Macau. Juntamente com outras companhias aéreas asiáticas, os vôos charter da VIVA Macau para o Japão ajudarão a criar um maior volume de turistas entre Macau e as cidades japonesas", acrescentou ainda o Sr. Ngan.

A VIVA Macau também reconhece e agradece todos os esforços efectuados pelas Autoridades de Aviação Civil, de Macau e do Japão, no sentido de tentarem criar um sistema legal estável e liberal que torne possível futuras ligações aéreas entre os dois territórios.

"O Japão é um parceiro crítico para o desenvolvimento do Turismo de Macau. Esperamos que qualquer que seja o acordo de serviços aéreos estabelecido, entre estas duas economias, permitirá estabelecer e desenvolver uma rede estável de importantes ligações aéreas, bem como benificiará os consumidores uma vez que possibilitará criar um mercado aberto com serviços e preços competitivos", concluiu o Sr. Ngan.

Os turistas japoneses – que são de longe os mais viajados do mundo – são actualmente menos de 1 por cento do total de visitantes do território de Macau, devido essencialmente à falta de vôos directos entre Macau e as principais cidades japonesas.

A VIVA Macau, a primeira companhia de baixo custo de Macau (www.flyvivamacau.com), iniciará as suas operações este ano, com uma frota de Boeing’s 767, e com vôos entre Macau e diversos novos destinos da Ásia-Pacífico e Médio Oriente.

A Air Charter International Co Ltd (www.aircharter.co.jp) está sediada em Tóquio, e é membro da Air Partner PCL, o maior corrector mundial de aviões comerciais e de jactos executivos, onde possui escritórios em 13 países e nos 4 continentes.

Para mais informações, por favor contacte:

Filipa Caeiros
+853 653 5425
filipa.caeiros@flyvivamacau.com

(Macau 28 Fevereiro, 2006) -- VIVA Macau – a companhia aérea internacional de baixos custos escolhida para representar Macau e o Delta do Rio das Pérolas – tem a honra de comunicar a finalização formal do Acordo de Sub-Concessão, permitindo o ínicio das operações da nova companhia aérea de Macau este verão.

O Presidente da VIVA Macau, o Sr. Ngan In Leng disse: "Tenho o prazer de anunciar que a VIVA Macau finalizou com sucesso o seu Acordo de Sub-Concessão. Agora podemos começar a concentrarmo-nos na importante tarefa de desenvolver uma forte rede internacional de serviços aéreos de e para Macau sediada no Aeroporto Internacional de Macau."

O Acordo de Sub-Concessão foi concluído após 8 meses de negociações comerciais entre a VIVA Macau e a Air Macau, que detém o controlo da Concessão para operações aéreas no território de Macau.

A finalização deste acordo permite à VIVA Macau continuar e proseguir com os planos para começar a operar este verão, No entanto, continua sujeita à aprovação técnica final que será atribuída pela Autoridade de aviação Civil de Macau.

Apesar dos termos do Acordo de Sub-concessão serem confidenciais, o Sr. Ngan In Leng disse que a VIVA Macau ficou satisfeita, de uma forma geral, com o resultado das negociações e continuará a trabalhar com a Air Macau com espírito de cooperação.

O Sr. Ngan In Leng disse: "Disponibilizamo-nos para trabalhar juntamente com a Air Macau e com a comunidade macaense no sentido de ajudarmos a desenvolver a nossa cidade como um futuro centro de convenções, entretenimento e lazer, e como um eixo de transporte aéreo de low-cost para o Sul da China".

"Macau é cada vez mais um popular destino de viagem e nós assumimos um compromisso: a VIVA Macau será um dos principais parceiros no crescimento do turismo da nossa cidade nos próximos anos. Nós estamos motivados para ligar Macau e o Delta do Rio das Pérolas ao mundo," disse ainda o Sr. Ngan In Leng .

A VIVA Macau irá inaugurar os seus serviços com uma rede internacional de fantásticos destinos que incluem a Ásia, o Médio Oriente e a Europa, e com uma frota de modernos aviões.

O anúncio da rede de fabulosos destinos será feito nas próximas semanas.

ParaMais informações, por favor contacte:

Maggie Chan
+853 680 9490
maggie.chan@flyvivamacau.com

Filipa Caeiros
+853 653 5425
filipa.caeiros@flyvivamacau.com

(Macau December 9, 2005) -- VIVA Macau – the new international low fare airline of choice for Macau and the Pearl River Delta – today unveiled its distinctive brand and logo at a launch celebration attended by over 200 guests from Macau's tourism and aviation sectors, the government and media.

The VIVA Macau brand captures the excitement of the airline and Macau.  In the logo, the words “VIVA” and “Macau” are crafted in a flowing script that invokes Macau's rich cultural heritage combining the best of East and West.

Speaking at the brand launch, VIVA Macau President Mr Ngan In Leng said: "We are making a firm commitment to building a strong network of international air services to and from Macau; this is at the very centre of our business philosophy for supporting Macau's development as a leading city for conventions, leisure and entertainment."

VIVA Macau will begin operations in Summer 2006 with a fleet of modern wide-body aircraft, inaugurating services to a network of regional and long haul cities across Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

The brand launch is the first of a series of events VIVA Macau is organizing as the airline prepares for the launch of its inaugural services.

Mr Ngan said: "We are developing VIVA Macau as the pioneer for a new brand of low cost, low fare airline; we will fly further to more destinations.  VIVA Macau is a new breed of airline for Macau."

"Bringing together the highest standards of professionalism, service, quality and business innovation, we will create Asia's most dynamic and best value-for-money airline," Mr Ngan added.

Mr Ngan said "Macau is also becoming an increasingly important gateway to Southern China, and we will support Macau International Airport’s development as one of Asia's fastest growing air transport hubs".

Chief Executive Andrew Pyne underlined the new airline’s commitment to Macau and the Pearl River Delta: " We are excited to connect Macau and the Pearl River Delta to the world.  Macau is an increasingly popular travel destination and VIVA Macau will be a key player in driving the city's tourism growth over the coming years," Mr Pyne said.

VIVA Macau has received tremendous backing from across the Macau community, and Mr Ngan extended his thanks to VIVA Macau's many supporters in the tourism and aviation sectors, the government and media.

"I would like to express our thanks to everyone who has helped us move this project forward, especially the Macau Civil Aviation Department, the Macau Government Tourist Office, the Macau International Airport Company, and the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China," said Mr Ngan.

"We are grateful for the warm welcome that the Macau community has given us and we pledge to do our utmost to help further Macau's economic development," added Mr Pyne.

A date for the launch of services and the exciting range of new destinations will be announced once the Macau Government approves and ratifies VIVA Macau's sub-concession arrangement.

After decades as a day-trip destination for Hong Kong's ferry-riding multitudes,Macau now welcomes busloads of mainlanders on excursion.

But former Cathay Pacific Airways executive Andrew Pyne intends to bring visitors by the planeful from Europe, the Middle East, North America and Africa.

``We're not viewing Macau as a transit point but as an exciting destination,''said Pyne, the public face of the yet-secret band of investors from Macau, Hong Kong, Australia, Italy and the United States who are raising US$30 million (HK$234 million) to launch airline Wow Macau later this year. ``This place is booming.''

As a startup, Wow is keen to avoid head-to-head competition so the lack of long-distance flights from Macau appeals to Pyne's group more than Hong Kong's saturated marketplace. Macau officials have negotiated air services agreements with 41 countries, but only six are presently served by passenger flights, another reason for Wow to skip Hong Kong's long route licensing process.

Operating from Macau, however, requires the consent of Air Macau as the incumbent holds a 25-year legal monopoly on offering commercial flights there.

Talks are advancing and Pyne expects the two airlines to work out an agreement to channel traffic betweenAir Macau's regional flights and Wow's planned long-haul routes. Air Macau's best customers are Taiwanese traveling to mainland China on business or pleasure, few of whom stop off in the territory for a look around. Officially, 5 percent of the 2.9 million people who visited Macau in the first two months of the year came by air, but that figure includes people transiting between flights here and nearby cities by road or sea. Pyne believes Wow can help raise the air share up to 15 percent. He anticipates carrying one million passengersannually within two years with an initial fleet of five leased Boeing 757 and 767 jets, which are both mid-sized and mid-range.

Generating those passenger numberswill require extending Wow's targetmarket to include some passengers traveling to and from Hong Kong and nearby mainland cities, Pyne admitted. Acknowledging that Wow will need to provide an incentive beyond price to fly via Macau, Pyne said the carrier will sell tickets through innovative channels that he declined to reveal and will offer a much broader range of food, entertainmentand seating choices than the conventionalclass options of economy, business or first.

Wow currently has a staff of 14, but Pyne sees that growing to 400 by launch. He expects the carrier will operate10 planes within four years and he has his sights on introducing the new mid-sized, long-range Boeing 787 model by 2010. Pyne expects Wow to generate at least 20 percent of revenue from carrying cargo.

HONG KONG (Dow Jones)--Budget airline Viva Macau plans to buy 12 aircraft valued at US$1 billion, though will initially operate leased planes as it prepares to launch its first flight from the booming gaming enclave of Macau in the middle of next year, says the company's chief executive, Andrew Pyne.

The startup is choosing between buying Boeing Co. (BA) 787s planes or Airbus (ABI.YY) A350-800s, and will announce its final decision as early as next month, he said.

"Macau's expansion as a destination will be quite aggressive," Pyne told Dow Jones Newswires on Thursday. "We have to build our market presence very, very quickly."

Tourists have been flooding into Macau, a special administrative region of China, since the local government liberalized the gaming industry in late 2002, ending tycoon Stanley Ho's decades-long monopoly of the sector.

Visitor numbers are expected to rise still faster as several grandiose casino projects start operations from 2007 on Macau's Cotai strip, an area of reclaimed land that is destined to be the city's Las Vegas Strip.

Between January and October this year, 872,200 visitors arrived in the city by air, already exceeding the 861,800 visitors who flew into the former Portuguese enclave last year.

And in five years' time, Pyne estimates five million passengers will use the city's airport annually. Viva Macau hopes to control 25% of the local air-passenger market by then, he said. Pyne also said cargo is an indispensable part of an Asian airline's operations and may eventually represent about 20% of the company's revenue.

The purchase of either Boeing 787s or Airbus A350s is Viva Macau's longer term plan for its fleet, as the Boeing planes wouldn't be delivered until 2010, while the Airbus planes would take still longer, Pyne said.

To begin with, Viva Macau will lease either Airbus A330-200s or Boeing 767s, before expanding its fleet to 12-15 planes by 2010, he said. It will also wet-lease aircraft (where one company leases an aircraft and at least one pilot from another company) from other airlines in the region.

Viva Macau hopes to break even in the first or second year of its operation, Pyne said.

He said the company hopes to serve medium- to long-haul destinations in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Australasia. While Pyne refused to disclose which cities Viva Macau intends to serve, he didn't rule out London or Honolulu.

But Viva Macau won't fly to China, partly to avoid direct competition with Air Macau, another budget airline that is jointly run by Shun Tak Holdings Ltd. (0242.HK) and China National Aviation Co. (1110.HK). Air Macau will soon operate short- to medium-haul routes to mainland China and Southeast Asia.

"We are not contemplating any services to China or Taiwan," Pyne said.

Budget airlines, which have been popular in Europe and North America for several years, have only recently begun to emerge in Asia. Recent startups in the region include Singapore-based Tiger Airways and Valuair, and Malaysia's AirAsia Bhd. (5099.KU).

Most low-cost carriers offer cheaper fares than traditional airlines because they sell their seats online without going through travel agents. Free drinks or meals aren't offered during their flights, and many budget airlines operate from low-cost secondary air bases.

Airlines operating from Macau airport pay lower fees than they would at other airports in the region, especially in neighboring Hong Kong.

Pyne said the lower airport fees, the relatively lower salaries in Macau and a higher aircraft utilization rate will enable Viva Macau to enjoy costs that are 40% less than those of the big, established Asia airliners, such as Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. (0293.HK) and Singapore Airlines Ltd. (S55.SG).

"If you drive fares low enough, you generate bigger and bigger volume," Pyne said, adding budget airlines are volume-driven, where traditional airlines are yield-driven.

Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Viva Macau, the first discount airline in the former Portuguese colony, will announce an order by next month for new fuel-efficient aircraft from Airbus SAS or Boeing Co. that could be worth as much as $1.9 billion.

The Macau, China-based carrier, which plans to operate Asian routes next year before expanding to Europe and North America, will choose between the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787 in an order for possibly 12 aircraft, Chief Executive Andrew Pyne said today in an interview in Hong Kong.

``Both aircraft types would give us the capability to fly non-stop to North America,'' Pyne said. ``Pricing and the structure of the financing would be very important in making the decision,'' he said.

Viva Macau, which seeks to fly routes other than those served by discount carriers AirAsia Bhd. and Tiger Airways Pte, wants to tap rising travel to and from the world's biggest gaming hub after Las Vegas. Airbus and Boeing are seeking buyers for their latest 787 and A350 models as airlines turn to more fuel-efficient aircraft amid record oil prices.

Macau's gaming industry is expanding after the government ended a 42-year monopoly of casino owner Stanley Ho. Las Vegas Sands Corp., Wynn Resorts and other companies are building gaming resorts in Macau, the only place in China where casinos are legal.

Asia's Discount Carriers

Viva Macau will join at least 18 discount carriers that have emerged in Asia in the past three years. Oasis Hong Kong Airlines Ltd., the city's first low-fare carrier, also plans to fly to the U.S. and Europe. It aims to start flights to London in June 2006, Chief Executive Steve Miller said on Dec. 1.

Malaysia's AirAsia, Southeast Asia's biggest discount carrier, flies to Macau from Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. Tiger Airways, partly owned by Singapore Airlines Ltd., operates flights between the city state and Macau.

An order for the A350 or the 787 will prepare Viva Macau for flights outside Asia. The airline is considering the A350- 800, which can carry 253 passengers each and fly up to 8,800 nautical miles (16,300 kilometers), or non-stop from Macau to New York. An A350-800 has a catalog price of about $160 million.

Viva Macau is comparing that with Boeing's 787-8, Pyne said. The 787-8, which costs as much as $135 million each at catalog prices, can fly up to 8,500 nautical miles with as many as 250 passengers.

``The 787 has an edge because it's going to be available earlier,'' Pyne said. Chicago-based Boeing's 787 will be ready for service in 2008. The A350, which Toulouse, France-based Airbus is offering to challenge the 787, will enter service in 2010.

A350 Vs Boeing 787

Airbus and Boeing are building fuel-efficient aircraft as airlines worldwide seek to save costs by cutting fuel consumption. The A350 and the 787 will use fuel-saving engines and lightweight materials.

Boeing, the world's second-largest commercial aircraft maker, yesterday won an order valued at $6.1 billion for 45 of its 787 model from Qantas Airways Ltd. as Australia's biggest airline adds profitable international routes.

Including options to buy 20 additional 787 Dreamliners and purchase rights to 50 more, the order is worth as much as $18 billion and the largest 787 purchase to date, Boeing said. The planemaker is on course to win more orders than Airbus for the first time in five years.

Singapore Airlines, Asia's most-profitable carrier, is considering the A350 and the 787. The airline aims to finish a fleet expansion study by the end of this year and make a decision in early 2006, Chief Executive Chew Choon Seng said in a Nov. 18 interview.

Asian Routes

Viva Macau plans to fly to Southeast Asia from June 2006, with the aim of starting flights to the Middle East and Europe in the first year, said Pyne, a former executive with Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. He declined to name the cities before getting approval from the Macau government.

Air Macau Ltd., which has an exclusive operating license in the city, agreed to give some of its traffic rights to Viva Macau and the government is looking at the agreement between the two carriers, he said.

The two airlines won't compete on the same routes, Pyne said. Air Macau is using just three of Macau's 43 air services agreements, Euphemia Lam, a spokeswoman for the city's Civil Aviation Authority, said by telephone today.

Air Macau, controlled by China National Aviation Co., flies mainly to Chinese cities. It has flights to Seoul and Manila.

Viva Macau will begin flights with three leased Boeing 767s or Airbus A330s, Pyne said. The airline wants to expand its fleet to 10 to 15 aircraft by 2010, before phasing out the leased planes for new ones.

The company will lease aircraft with funds from shareholders, including President Ngan In-leng. It's in talks with banks to finance the purchase of planes, Pyne said. William Ho, brother of Macau Chief Executive Edmund Ho, is also a shareholder in Viva Macau.

The airline, formerly known as WOW!Macau, dropped the name as it's similar to WOW, an alliance formed by the cargo units of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines Corp. and Scandinavian Airlines.

WOW! Has re-branded itself as VIVA Macau and vows to start commercial operations next June. The locally incorporated low-fare airline announced its new brand and logo at a press conference on Friday, where its Chief Executive Officer Andrew J. Pyne said he expected commercial flight operations to take off on June 1 next year.

Speaking at the VIVA Macau brand launch at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Mr. Pyne also said his company planned to lease “two to three” Boeing 787 or Airbus A350 aircraft to get its maiden fleet off the ground.

The fledgling airline was previously known as WOW!Macau. However, the company decided to change its name due to the existence of another same-brand aviation operation, the WOW! Air  cargo logistics alliance involving, among others, Lufthansa Cargo and Singapore Airlines Cargo.

Speaking at the launch, VIVA President Ngan In Leng said, “We are developing VIVA Macau as the pioneer for a new brand of low-cost, low-fare airline,” vowing, “We will create Asia’s most dynamic and best-value-for-money airline.” Mr.Ngan also said that Macau was “ becoming an increasingly important low-fare gateway to southern China, and we will support Macau International Airport’s development as one of Asia’s fastest growing air transport hubs.”

Macau International Airport celebrated its 10th anniversary last Thursday.

Mr. Pyne said that by the end of next year he expected VIVA Macau to operate routes to India, the Middle East and Europe, adding that Prague and Budapest were possible destinations during the airline’s first year of operations. Another company source, who declined to be named, said earlier this month VIVA Macau was considering launching a route between Macau and Moscow, adding other possible destinations were Australia, New Zealand and North America.

Mr. Pyne said his airline would offer passengers the option of two classes, the more expensive of which would “ to an extent” resemble a conventional airline’s business class, adding the main consideration would be “passengers’ comfort.”

VIVA Macau executives also said they expected cargo to generate about a quarter of the total revenue of the airline, which plans to increase its number of aircraft to a dozen over a five-year period.

The airline will enter the market as a sub-concession of Air Macau, which holds Macau’s civil aviation monopoly for a period of 25 years. The monopoly was granted by Macau’s pre-handover government in 1995.

VIVA Macau is Macau’s second low-fare airlines. Air Macau has announced plans to form a joint venture low-cost airline together with two partners by the second half of next year.