Indian businessman to launch airline in UAE

DUBAI: An Indian businessman is all set to launch Kang Pacific Airlines, making it the fifth airline based in the UAE.

Brainchild of Paul Kang, an Indian businessman who earlier owned companies involved in aviation catering as well as supplied good to duty free shops in the UK and Fujairah, the airline plans to launch commercial service out of Fujairah in October, to tap the growing demand for air services to certain destinations.

Kang told Gulf News that he is self-financing the airline's launch with USD 10 million in start-up capital, primarily to procure two DC-10s, a Boeing 747 and one Boeing 737 over the next six months. The fleet will primarily consist of leased aircraft.

Initially the services will begin for Philippines, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, later there also plans to operate flights to the UK.

The airline will operate as a hybrid between a budget and a full service carrier.

The venture is the result of a two-year feasibility study conducted by a professor at Cranfield University, who will also be a partner, Kang said.