Eastern Express, the first domestic passenger airline in the UAE, will begin operations during the first quarter of 2012 out of Fujairah International Airport.
The airline will fly twice daily from Fujairah to Abu Dhabi and later through Bahrain and other destinations in the Gulf. From there passengers will transfer to international airlines. Eastern Express has already arranged tie-ups with as yet un-named airlines operating out of Abu Dhabi to provide quick connections to its passengers. The flight will connect travellers in Fujairah with the capital’s airport in a little less than 40 minutes. The airline plans to offer low-cost tickets but with full flight services.
The airline is owned by partners Al Hajjar Aviation, Abulhoul Aviation and local businessmen from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Al Hajjar Aviation is reported to be in talks to secure financing of $3.5 million to fund the leasing of its first aircraft, which will be a Jetstream 41 aircraft from BAE Systems, which can carry up to 29 passengers.