RAK Airways puts off commercial launch

Dubai: Plans to launch commercial service for RAK Airways again seem to be on hold after it missed its latest target launch date of April.
"Before we start flying there is much groundwork still to be done," new CEO Kishu Teckchandani, told Gulf News.
Teckchandani said RAK Airways was still negotiating air traffic rights with India and Iran, two countries that figure prominently in its planned network.
Teckchandani took the reins in late February from former chief executive Jack Romero, who was relieved when it became clear the company's commercial operations were to be delayed by several months.
At the time of the management change, RAK Airways' managing director, Khater Massaad, forecast the airline to launch in early April.
Yesterday, the new chief executive refused to speculate whether the airline would even launch in 2007. "We don't want to make any statements [on a launch date] because we don't want to raise hopes," he said.
When it does begin service, the airline will become the fourth national airline of the UAE, joining Emirates, Etihad Airways and Air Arabia.
02/05/07 Ivan Gale/Gulf News, United Arab Emirates

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Categories: Foreign May 2007, New May 2007