Laura Hailstone/DUSSELDORF
European Air Express (EAE) is gearing up for expansion, following its recent takeover of Filder Air Services. The German regional's growth plans partly depend, however, on the expansion of the runway at its Düsseldorf Express (DEX) airport base in Mönchengladbach.
EAE's fleet consists of two British Aerospace J31s and two ATR 42s, inherited in the take-over of Filder. These aircraft have replaced EAE's wet-leased Fokker 50s. Tthe airline is looking for additional ATRs, including ATR 42s and the larger ATR 72. Services to Munich, Luton and Hamburg are the mainstay of the operation.
Managing director Peter Hauptvogel believes expansion plans will move more easily once DEX's 1,200m (3,935ft) runway is extended. "We have jet operations in mind, but until the runway is developed we cannot contemplate buying these," he says. He says an extension is planned by late next year, which would increase the length to 1,680m, enabling the ATR 72 and small regional jets to operate more comfortably.
Hauptvogel had been a director of the now defunct Debonair and formed EAE when the UK regional began scaling down its DEX mini-hub in 1999. "We have only taken on the Debonair routes that are profitable, says Hauptvogel. "They tried to be a low-cost airline providing minimum service. We are offering a fuller more frequent service."
Eight routes are planned over the next four years, at a rate of one for each summer and winter scheduled season. Flights to Nice commence at the end of April, and a summer seasonal service to the German island of Sylt will be reintroduced in May. A double daily non-stop service between Luton and Munich will start in July, and flights to Hamburg begin in September.
Source: Flight International
