RAK Airways launch this year

India among destinations of new UAE airline

BY A CORRESPONDENT
February 21, 2006

RAK Airways, the fourth national airline from the United Arab Emirates, will be airborne by the end of this year. RAK Airways will fly to India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Iran, Egypt, Lebanon and Gulf countries initially.

RAK (which stands for Ras Al Khaimah) Airways will start flying with eight aircraft. Talks are on with Airbus and Boeing for the planes.

At a press conference last week, Chairman of RAK Civil Aviation and Vice Chairman of the company Shaikh Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi said that RAK Airways will be a private joint stock company. The new airline is expected to bring more traffic to the Ras Al Khaimah international airport.

It will have an authorised capital of Dh 1.5 billion. The formation of the new airline has already been cleared by UAE's council of ministers. The Government of Ras Al Khaimah will hold the largest stake in the company.


RAK Airways will also deal with activities related to air travel and tourism development including passenger airlines and cargo transportation, private airline aero plane charter, freight clearing services, development of tourism facilities including establishment of hotels, air freight and passenger flight charter, duty free market management and operation etc.