The UAE’s fi fth airline will launch commercial service out of the emirate of Fujairah this month. Kang Pacifi c Airlines will initially operate between the UAE and the Philippines, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, with future services to the UK planned.

The airline is the brainchild of Indian businessman Paul Kang, who is self-fi – nancing the airline’s launch with $10m in startup capital to procure two DC- 10s, a B747 and B737 over the next six months. The fl eet will primarily consist of leased aircraft roughly 20 years old. The carrier will fl y under an AOC issued by the Philippine government. It expects to receive its UAE certifi cate in six to eight months. Kang has signed a maintenance contract with Lufthansa Technik to regularly service the planes in the Philippines.

The UAE’s other airlines are Etihad, Emirates, RAK Airways and Air Arabia.