Rotana Jet aims to bring domestic services to UAE

The company has switched its Embraer ERJ145 regional jet from private charter shuttle services to public transport register.

Last week it began operating a three-times a week service to the Sir Bani-Yas  island from its base at Al Bateen airport, but according to the new airline’s commercial and planning director Rajendran Vellapalath, a solid financial case exists to begin domestic services across the UAE.

“We are not just looking at the domestic market in the sense of people flying from the northern emirates to Abu Dhabi, but we are in talks with airlines from the UAE and internationally about interlining so as people from Fujairah and RAK can connect to international flights,” he said.

Rotana Jet was launched at MEBA two years ago and developed operations from the Abu Dhabi business airport with a Gulfstream G450 and a Legacy 600. It is expecting to add an ACJ319 to its fleet soon.

With the contract from the Abu Dhabi Tourist Authority to operate the flights to the popular resort island, Vellapalath said the airline was also seeing bookings from nationals who wanted to visit the island as well as high-level tourists.

“We are operating three times a week at the moment but I think that could increase as demand rises,” he said.

Before operating the northern emirates routes RotanaJet will need approvals from the regulator, GCAA, to switch to Part 121 as a scheduled  air carrier rather than a Part 135.

Vellapalath said that once the UAE domestic routes begin the airline would also begin using the Abu Dhabi international airport to enable smoother transit.

"At the moment if you live in the northern emirates it can take hours to get to the airport for an interational flight. By developing this commection, and by interlining, it will become a lot easier for them," he said.