Eastern Express said it will commence operations out of Fujairah International Airport during the first quarter of 2012 as a first regular domestic airline in the country.

Initially, the airline plans two daily flights linking Fujairah to the world through Abu Dhabi and later through other GCC destinations.

“It is first regular domestic airline in the UAE and after Abu Dhabi next destination will be Bahrain after a few months,” Eastern Express chief executive officer Alex de Vos told Khaleej Times over phone on Saturday.

This new regional airline based in Fujairah emerges from the business plan created by Al Hajjar Aviation and launched in partnership with Abulhoul Aviation and prominent local businessmen from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. 
Eastern Express, a private company, will be the first airline in this region to introduce the air feeder concept, which is already well established in Europe and the United States.

Eastern Express has tie-ups with other international airlines operating out of Abu Dhabi to provide quick connections to its passengers, according to de Vos.

He declined to disclose names of the airlines.

Al Hajjar Aviation, one of the partners in Eastern Express, is in talks for financing options to raise $3.5 million to fund the leasing of its first aircraft, according to reports.

The airline plans to offer low-cost tickets but with full flight services on board and will transport passengers between emirates in the country. Initially, Al Hajjar will lease a Jetstream 41 aircraft from BAE Systems, which can carry up to 29 passengers.

Eastern Express will use safe, modern regional turboprop aircraft that are specifically designed for high reliability and comfort on short, high frequency routes.

Fujairah is overhauling its airport with a second passenger terminal, a new 3,000 metres parallel taxiway and control tower, and cargo village scheduled for completion by 2025.

Fujairah is rapidly developing with huge growth in industry and tourism and Eastern Express will capitalise on the need for passengers whether tourists and businessmen to connect to this emerging emirate.

Currently, any business traveller in Fujairah must drive at least one hour to an airport in Dubai or Sharjah to catch a flight say to Doha and one must be there two hours before departure.

With new airline, one would travel a few minutes to the Fujairah International Airport where you would be checked-in and seated in your aircraft direct to Doha within half an hour.

Furthermore, a daily service that links Fujairah with say Abu Dhabi, would benefit business and tourism interests and strengthen the link between Fujairah with the UAE capital.

abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com