An airline formed from the ashes of Debonair plans to take on Lufthansa on key domestic routes in Germany, using Düsseldorf Express Airport as a hub.
European Air Express (EAE) was founded by Peter Hauptvogel, who was managing director, Germany, for Debonair before the demise of the low-fares carrier last year. The new airline will concentrate on some of Debonair's more lucrative routes. Unlike Debonair, EAE is focusing on business passengers.
The airline is serving London Luton and Munich from Düsseldorf and plans to introduce a four-times-a-day service to Hamburg from the airport, near Mönchengladbach. Hauptvogel admits this is a direct challenge to Lufthansa, which serves Hamburg from nearby Düsseldorf International and Cologne/Bonn airports.
Although most of these destinations will be in Germany, with Berlin under consideration, executive vice-president Europe Barry Zorn says France could be a possibility now Air France is increasing its dominance by buying into regional carriers. The company is also considering a London Luton-Munich service via Düsseldorf Express Airport. The latter has benefited from operating restrictions at Düsseldorf International on environmental grounds.
Hauptvogel says EAE will remain independent from the major carriers. Hauptvogel shares 40% ownership with a colleague and the remaining 60% belongs to a local transport firm.
The airline has its own air operating certificate (AOC), after initially operating under the AOC of Dutch-based Denim Air and its Fokker 50s. EAE now has two ATR 42s and two Jetstream 31s.
Source: Airline Business
