The Malaysian start-up airline has wet-leased a single BAe 146-200A (reg RP-C5525, serial E2031) from Lionair of the Philippines to operate regular charters which will initially link both the recently modernised Malacca International Airport and Kuala Terenggangu in Malaysia with Bandung in Indonesia. Additional Indonesian destinations, in Sumatra, as well as Hong Kong and points in Thailand are planned. The start-up was created in November by the Malaysia-based Kemuning Group, in partnership with the KAGUM hotels group of Indonesia: manager of several hotels in Bandung. Heritage Air is planning to apply for its own AOC, which will allow it to operate dry leased aircraft. A second aircraft is also planned, although conflicting reports suggest that could be another BAe 146 or an Embraer 145. As a World Heritage site, the city of Melaka, in the Straits of Malacca has been a popular tourist destination for centuries, but Heritage Air will also look to exploit demand from Malaysians heading for the tourist attractions of Bandung as well as from Indonesians seeking medical treatment at private hospitals in the Melaka region. Whether the carrier can succeed in carving out a niche while operating a wet-leased aircraft on charter flights remains to be seen. The start-up will face indirect competition, initially from relaunched Indonesian carrier Riau Airlines, but much larger low cost carriers, AirAsia and Firefly have both indicated an interest in adding Melaka to their networks. Contact details are:
Heritage Air (Melaka) Sdn Bhd
Melaka International Airport
75350 Batu Berendam
Melaka
Malaysia.
Tel: +60 6 3191 680
Fax: +60 6 3191 689
Email: package@heritageair.my
Web :http://www.heritageair.com
Why not:
Posted
Tue, Jan 18 2011 5:27 PM
by
Fleetwatch Administrator
|
Report Abuse