Thursday, Dec 09, 2010
Gulf News
FIA signs agreement with Kerala authority to develop new passenger and cargo charter flights
Dubai Fujairah International Airport (FIA) will soon sign a contract with a management company for its new fixed based operations (FBO) building, airport officials said.
Construction of the Dh5 million FBO building finished this month, and officials want private charter and cargo operations to begin by January, Khalid Al Mazroui, general manager of FIA, told Gulf News.
FIA yesterday signed an agreement with Cochin International Airport in India that would develop new passenger and cargo charter flights between Fujairah and Cochin. The agreement also included training and sourcing manpower from Kerala.
“We have been eyeing the Kerala market for quite some time and this agreement will further give impetus to the trade between Kerala and Fujairah,” Al Mazroui said.
Krishnadas, managing director of Cochin International Airport, said, “We have been very keen to explore the UAE market because of the large expatriate Kerala population and the strategic location of the UAE as a trade hub.”
The management company of the FBO will soon sign several operators from the Middle East and India to set up base at FIA. Al Mazroui said that flights between the two airports are in line with the airport’s objective of route expansion and effective service delivery strategy.
Fujairah Airport is used mainly for fuelling and cargo facilities. The management however has planned significant expansion and is in the midst of a Dh70 million infrastructure development project.
Currently under construction is the Europe Aviation Fujairah Maintenance Centre, which will serve Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The hangar will be able to accommodate four A320s or two A340s and will be ready in June, Al Mazroui said. French company Europe Aviation has invested $25 million, and the airport is spending Dh70 million on the maintenance centre.
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By Nadia Saleem?Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
