The Aviator: A Flight Fit For A Kang

He left home at 19 with a soaring ambition and just about $100 (Dh370) in his pocket. Paul Kang has come a long way since then.

Today, at 40, the British businessman of Indian origin heads a $45 million (Dh165 million) empire. And just when you thought he would have got his feet firmly planted on the ground, Kang is gearing up to reach the skies.

Having relocated from the UK to the UAE, Kang plans to start a new budget airline in Fujairah.

"It was my childhood dream to own an aircraft," Kang said in an exclusive interview at his modest operating office inside Fujairah International Airport.

Born in a Sikh family in Muktsar, in Punjab, Kang always wanted to do "something big in life".

The son of an ex-soldier who ran a transportation business, Kang joined his four brothers and a sister in Germany after finishing his schooling. "I started my career doing small jobs like cleaning gardens, earning a very small amount of money," he said.

In 1986, he joined the merchant navy as a cadet in a Ger-man shipping company owned by his brother-in-law. He spent eight years in the company earning $50 (Dh185) a month.

In 1995, he got married and started a business as a wholesale supplier to aviation catering companies in the United Kingdom.

He later acquired the oldest aviation catering supply company in the UK and launched duty free shops there.

Kang is now in the process of selling his $45 million business and shifting his base to Fujairah from England after spending over 12 years in that country.

Two years back, he decided to start an airline of his own. "I decided to start an airline in Fujairah as we have a warehouse here," he said.

Kang commissioned a feasibility study for his budget airline as the emirate does not have an airline. "I have seen Fujairah grow and it is the right time to start something new," he said.

Kang, who is investing $10 million (Dh36.7 million) in Kang Pacific Airlines, is confident about his venture. "This is my own money," he said. "I have not taken any partner at this stage and future plans will depend on demand in Fujairah."

Initially, the airline will em-loy two DC-10s, an aircraft last produced in 1989. "We have taken two DC-10 aircraft on lease from Global Aviations, a company based in South Africa and the crew is part of the lease agreement," he said. "Initially we will be employing around 55 people".

Kang is not worried about the safety of the DC-10s, flown by 15 airlines worldwide.

"The safety of the aircraft depends on maintenance and if this is not done properly by a reputed company then risk factors are there and the age of the aircraft does not matter. We have given the maintenance contract to a company owned by Lufthansa," he said.

The first aircraft will be delivered in October depending on the clearances from various governments and the second plane will follow thereafter.

"We have not fixed a [launch] date but it will be some time in October depending on over-flying clearances and landing rights. The Philippines and Sri Lanka have given the landing rights and we are working with the Indian authorities to get the rights," Kang said.

Kang is also planning to acquire an A320 or a Boeing 737 to cover some Gulf destinations, including Doha.

Kang Pacific Airlines will fly to four countries and will cover three sectors:

The aircraft will have 350 economy and 16 business class seats.