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Kang Pacific Airlines (KPA) is being
established as part of Mr. Paul Kang’s wider business
interests in the UAE. Paul Kang holds UK and Indian
nationality and his family have run successful businesses in
both the UK and India. He holds resident status in the UAE and
is presently engaged in the process of transferring his
business interests from the UK to the UAE. He has already
established a duty free operation out of the Fujairah Port and
Free Zone and is investing in tourism in Marinas and Hotels
there.
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KPA is to be the airline of the
Fujairah. Fujairah is one of the seven Emirates that makes up
the UAE and is the most easterly of the seven, entirely
located on the Indian Ocean coast, which gives it a different
appearance and climate compared to the other Emirates located
along the Arabian Gulf. It will therefore serve the immediate
catchment area of Fujairah City, the surround towns and
villages, including the immediately adjacent parts of
Sharjah. |
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The
UAE is one of the most dynamic economies in the World at
present, with enormous infrastructure and capital investment
taking place. It generates some of the highest airline
ridership numbers, producing as many air trips per head of
population as do residents of North America, much of Western
Europe and Australia. It has a diverse population of UAE
nationals with high per capita income and immigrant workers,
whose employment status requires them to annual or more
frequent air trips to their home countries, which include the
Indian sub-continent, points in Asia-Pacific and from the
Middle East and North Africa. The population is both
economically active and growing rapidly in support of the
large scale business and tourism developments taking place
there. This pattern is repeated across each Emirate, not least
in Fujairah. Fujairah itself contains only 3% of the current
UAE population but the surrounding catchment areas, including
the neighbouring Sharjah enclave double these numbers, so
there is both the volume and growth potential to support a
small and efficient airline operation based there. Fujairah
also offers an uncongested airport built to international
standards with a brand new airport terminal. Fujairah has
significant tourism potential distinct from the brashness of
Dubai. There are a number of first class hotels already
established including a Hilton and Meridien, and several more
are planned including beachfront villas and apartments.
Tourism capacity is likely to more than double in the next
five years in line with developments in the rest of the UAE.
It is already used a short break destination for tourist
wishing to escape the busier emirates for a while. The Indian
Ocean coastline, which extends from Fujairah City southwards
into part of Sharjah and northward, again through Sharjah to
the major port of Khor Fakkan is spectacular against the
backdrop of the Fujairah Mountains, including the Wadi Woraya
Mountain WWF Protected Area, which offer potential for
eco-tourism.
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KPA is to be based in the
United Arab Emirates at Fujairah International Airport. It
will operate to Europe, initially to UK regional airports such
as Birmingham in the West Midlands, East Midlands Airport
(serving Derby, Leicester and Nottingham) and Manchester in
the Northwest region. From Fujairah services will operate to
the Indian sub-continent, including to Amritsar, Cochin,
Karachi & Mumbai and Asia-Pacific, including Manila.
Regional services will also be operated to the Arabian Gulf
destinations and to the Middle East. Using its location on the
crossroads between Europe and Asia-Pacific Fujairah also
offers the potential to interline passengers, for example
between Europe and India, thereby supporting the local traffic
who will be using the non-stop direct services being
offered. |
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Detailed planning is underway for
KPA to obtain an Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from the UAE
by early 2008. In the meantime it will commence operations using
wet-leased aircraft. Plans for aircraft acquisition are
underway and the aircraft types under consideration include
250 to 300 seats widebodies such as the A300-600R and
767-300ER and 150-200 seat narrowbody types, including the
A320 family and Boeing 737 Classic and NG aircraft. The
widebodies will operate to Europe and Asia-Pacific and the
narrowbodies within the Middle East and Indian sub-continent.
A project office has been established at Fujairah and is being
staffed with the key management team who will oversee the
detailed planning and implementation of flight and ground
operations. |
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