Metis confident of September launch

Macau's new low-fare airline entrant - Metis TransPacific - will launch twice-weekly flights between Vancouver and Macau on September 7.

Christopher Colbourne, director general for Metis TransPacific Airlines says he is positive flights will take off September 7th, and does not foresee the same delays as Viva Macau.

"Metis has not received any negative feedback from the Canadian authorities nor the Macau authorities," Colbourne says. "We are positive that Metis will launch on September 7th with two flights per week and expand to three times per week at the end of September 2007.

Colbourne said Metis has spent a year trying to get approval for its flights and both Macau and Canada have granted those approvals.

"I wouldn't jump on Macau authorities as the problem maker. Macau in the end did do exactly as they said they would, as did Canada. Everyone at Metis and at Macau CAA [or AACM] was on a very steep learning curve and it takes time to make sure that everyone has done their job. Macau CAA has been on an even steeper learning curve than Metis with having to certify two different airlines in Macau and that is not including the work that had to be done on Metis flight application," he adds.

Meanwhile, Pansy Ho's low-fare airline, Macau Asia Express has postponed the launch of its flights from September this year to the first quarter of 2008.