Viva Air

[latinaviation]

Anyone want to place bets on how long this carrier will last, if they even get off the ground? In the past week or so, they've issued a press release that says they're going to acquire two 747-200s and just yesterday signed a deal to acquire an Indian telecommunications provider - - and now they intend to offer service to India.

So let's see - since their inaugural press release they've gone from wet-leasing Falcon Air 727-200s to provide service from PR and DR to the US, to acquiring a stake in Queen Air, and now acquiring 747s and offering service to India.

Question is - do they have a strategic plan? It sounds like this company jumps at any opportunity, whether or not it makes sense.

Thoughts?

[GRS]

PAN AM IV. lol...They are going to last hummm...Not more than 6 months after they start operations, if ever....Boeing 727 and 747, Indian operator? RUNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe Al Qaida is supplying the green, who knows....
Another airline deemed for failure, oh well... When are people going to learn?

[aviastar]

Well, this is funny. Let's have more airlines here in Dom Rep than guagua carriers. This is so stupid. Yeah 2 747s and we are about to face war with Iraq, this is such a funny story. Let's fly 5 daily flights S Domingo-Bombey-Islamabad

[Porfio_Rubirosa]

I still remember Tower Air's circa 1972 747-200s that flew to Santo Domingo as recently as three or four years ago. In particular, I remember the overhead bins held up by duct tape. Mercifully, Tower Air went away. I wonder if Viva might have taken one of the old Tower Air planes from the Arizona desert?

I'm in the airport business, and we have a saying: "Friends don't let friends start airlines."

[aviastar]

Porfio, you are absolutely right.

Tower, APA, Air Atlantic, Queen Air - all those things are part of the past. In case if there is no single airline that flies between US and DOM it is a good business to start it, but when we see how recently Mexicana left us, how Aerocontinente was flying. NO WAY! Please, no more airlines. Everyone already has its preffered airline. Who needs those old Indian 747s? Jumbo was created for longhaul flights, not for games. Airline indusrty is a completely fraud now.

So, let's clean our streets first, then we'll get more toursts and probably we'll need those BQ's flights to Europe.

[GRS]

Originally posted by Porfio_Rubirosa
I still remember Tower Air's circa 1972 747-200s that flew to Santo Domingo as recently as three or four years ago. In particular, I remember the overhead bins held up by duct tape. Mercifully, Tower Air went away. I wonder if Viva might have taken one of the old Tower Air planes from the Arizona desert?

I'm in the airport business, and we have a saying: "Friends don't let friends start airlines."

What do you do?

[GRS]

Originally posted by aviastar
Porfio, you are absolutely right.

Tower, APA, Air Atlantic, Queen Air - all those things are part of the past. In case if there is no single airline that flies between US and DOM it is a good business to start it, but when we see how recently Mexicana left us, how Aerocontinente was flying. NO WAY! Please, no more airlines. Everyone already has its preffered airline. Who needs those old Indian 747s? Jumbo was created for longhaul flights, not for games. Airline indusrty is a completely fraud now.

So, let's clean our streets first, then we'll get more toursts and probably we'll need those BQ's flights to Europe.

Agreed. Don't forget Quisqueya Airways, Hispaniola Airways, and others who tried to fly to the US and failed miserably.

[aviastar]

Now we are trying to fly to Europe. Aeromar's ambition is tooooooooooo cool! They wanna fly to Europe, they'll defeat AF, UX, IB, UX, MP, DE, LT and others.

[avionics]

I think they have a good chance to make it. They are getting planes for cheap and financing to operate for a few years.

There are also rumors that Carl Icahn who has been trying to grab National Airlines (now chapter 7) may be involved.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/st...11551539.html?"carl+Icahn",+"national+airlines"

Robert Scott is also a CPA working for a firm in Michigan (Old Mission Assessment http://www.omacorp.com/ ). Ian Herman and Bob Scott pictures can be seen on the Old Mission' web site.
The CEO of that Michigan company is called Ian Herman.

Ian Herman and Carl Icahn were together when they made an offer of $180 millions to National Airlines in 2001.

http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2002/J.../17957602.html

Carl Icahn was also seen in National Airlines offices as recently as last november (only a few months ago). An ex-employee of National mentioned in a New Article in Las Vegas that he thought Carl Icahn was buying the airlines. At that point operations had ceased.

"A National employee who declined to be identified said he thinks the potential buyer is Carl Icahn, the billionaire financier who made a $180 million offer for the airline soon after it went into bankruptcy in December 2000. He said Icahn had been recently seen with several of his assistants in National's general office collecting documents."

See: http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_ho.../20080987.html

National Airlines certificate was the only asset that National Airlines had left that could be disposed of during chapter 7 proceedings. Huge debts and all their airplanes were leased. It is not known if the certificate can be transfered.

Basically there seems to be connections between Carl Icahn, Ian Herman (Scott's boss), Bob Scott (Current Viva Airlines CEO), Hamilton Aerospace (aircraft maintenance comapny in Arizona where scott is also involved), and Falcon Air Express (will provide crews, some airplanes, maintenance, and training).

The fact that Viva/Auxer is currently looking for a US based airline of certificate, and National Ailines certificate may be available, and also because of all the connections between all parties involved, I think this may be larger than most people think.

I think they have a good chance to make it. Just my opinion.

[GRS]

Took TWA to bankruptcy. History will be repeated.