Midex Airlines to start operations from UAE this year

Dubai: Midex Airlines, a new carrier, will start operations from the UAE by the end of this year, a company statement said.

Dr. Issam Khairallah, president of Midex Airlines, said he received the licence for cargo and passenger operations earlier this year.

He explained that Midex will first start with cargo operations to six major destinations that include Orly in France, Mumbai and Kochi in India, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Istanbul in Turkey and Beirut in Lebanon.

More destinations will be added later.

"We will operate scheduled flights daily to all six destinations with cargo initially," said Dr. Khairallah while pointing out that the new airline has reserved its option to start passenger operations at a later date.

"We will be the UAE's first dedicated cargo airline and the largest cargo operator in the Middle East with a privately owned fleet," he said.

The airline management has been busy acquiring aircraft, having all the necessary checks done and getting them ready to take to the skies. "We have 54 pilots, mostly from the US," Dr. Khairallah said.

Jassim Al Bastaki, Midex' general manager, said the cargo carrier will have scheduled flights daily out of Al Ain Airport, which will act as the airline's hub airport.

Midex's aircraft have automated landing systems. The company has acquired one of the largest spare parts inventories for the A300B4 with a spare engine to ensure that the aircraft do not have to stay on the ground waiting for parts to arrive.

The company is promoted by Dr. Issam Khairallah, who started Midex (International Express Courier & Cargo) with its hub at Orly in 1990 with just 10 people. Today, the company has over 25,000 professionals in 32 countries worldwide, making it the world's fifth largest integrator.

The Midex Group has a turnover of Dh20 billion.