http://www.travelweeklyweb.com/artic...rmenu=articles
Air Macau-Virgin in LCC venture
Ian Jarrett
30 August 2004 (GMT+8)
MACAU - Australia's Virgin Blue and Air Macau are planning to launch a joint venture, low-cost carrier, based in Macau, in the first quarter of 2005.
The two carriers are in the process of working out final details and a deal is expected within weeks.
Sources in Macau have confirmed the joint venture negotiations to TravelWeekly.
The Macau-based carrier would be the first LCC to operate in China and would have a head start on other operators who are looking at the opportunities for budget airlines on the mainland.
Air Macau has access to 31 routes throughout mainland China, but currently operates nine scheduled flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Xiamen, Haikou, Kunming, Shenzhen, Guilin and Chengdu.
Air Macau also has 42 air agreements to other destinations outside mainland China, but is currently only using rights to Bangkok and Manila.
The Macau government has been protective of Air Macau until now but sees a joint venture arrangement with an established LCC operator like Virgin Blue as a means of fast-tracking tourist numbers to the island.
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