VIVA IN-FLIGHT GAMBLING, VIVA!

(627) (7-October-2006)

Macau flights considering gambling entertainment

The concept of casinos-in-the-sky, in other words in-flight gambling, suggested some time ago by the CEO at Ryanair could be developed by a new Chinese airline according to reports from the DH News Service in India this week.

Viva Macau , a new airline from the special administrative region of China, plans to offer the service. The low-fare airline, which will be launching its services shortly, is negotiating  to fly to Indian destinations, especially Bangalore and Goa from Macau, the mecca for Asian land casino gambling.

Viva Macau Chief Executive Andrew Pyne said: "We are interested in touching down in Bangalore and Goa besides Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. Goa makes an interesting case because it was a Portuguese colony, much like Macau. We may even plan a Macau-Goa-Lisbon flight."

Asked about gambling facilities on flights, Pyne, who was in Mumbai recently to speak at a conference on low-cost airlines, said, "It's an interesting idea which has set the airline thinking. We will speak to the governments of the countries we will be flying to about the rules and regulations."

The airline has already received its first Boeing B767 wide-body jetliner that delivers 12 hours non-stop flight endurance.