Eaglexpress

Eaglexpress was a Malaysian charter airline established in January 2012 as a joint venture involving private investors from Malaysia and South Korea. Its headquarters were in Selangor, and its operating base was Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Rather than positioning itself as a conventional scheduled network carrier, the airline focused on charter aviation and aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance, or ACMI, operations conducted on behalf of other airlines. The carrier's intended market scope covered several forms of specialized air transport. These included pilgrimage services, particularly Umrah and Hajj flights to Saudi Arabia; holiday charters; business charters; and contract flying for other airlines. Its first reported operation took place in February 2012, when it carried a holiday group from South Korea to Malaysia. In March of the same year, it began an Umrah program to Jeddah under a six-month contract with a Malaysian travel agency. The pilgrimage program served travelers from Malaysia, southern Thailand and Indonesia, illustrating the airline's reliance on organized group travel rather than a broad scheduled passenger network. Eaglexpress subsequently expanded into Hajj operations. Its first Hajj service to Jeddah departed on 21 September 2012. At launch, the airline expressed ambitions to operate eight aircraft by the end of 2012 and to grow to as many as 20 aircraft over the following five years. The planned fleet was expected to include Boeing 737-400 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft, while the airline also used larger aircraft for certain contract assignments. One Airbus A330-200 operated for the Saudi Arabian airline flynas before being withdrawn from service and returned to its lessor, Guggenheim Aviation Partners, on 7 June 2016. The airline's operating history was relatively short. On 20 December 2016, The Edge reported that the Malaysian Aviation Commission had revoked Eaglexpress's Air Service Permit. The revocation was stated to take effect on 21 December 2016. An Air Service Permit is necessary for an airline to conduct commercial air services in Malaysia, so the regulatory action ended the carrier's ability to continue its Malaysian commercial operations under that permit. The available reference material does not establish a later relaunch, successor brand or continuing operation. Eaglexpress is therefore treated as a defunct charter-airline brand.

Eaglexpress was created in January 2012 as a Malaysian-South Korean private-investor joint venture. The reported ownership structure gave Malaysian investors a 60% stake and South Korean investors 40%. The airline was headquartered in Selangor and used Kuala Lumpur International Airport as its base. Its business model centered on charter and contract flying. The planned services included pilgrimage flights, holiday charters, business charters and ACMI operations for other airlines. This model allowed Eaglexpress to target organized travel groups and airline partners without building a large scheduled route network of its own. The airline began flying in February 2012, carrying a holiday group from South Korea to Malaysia. In March, it started an Umrah program to Jeddah for a Malaysian travel agency under a six-month contract that ran through approximately mid-September. The program served pilgrims originating in Malaysia, southern Thailand and Indonesia. Eaglexpress then entered the Hajj market, launching its first Hajj service to Jeddah on 21 September 2012. Eaglexpress announced ambitious expansion plans during its early period. It expected to have eight aircraft by the end of 2012 and aimed to reach a fleet of up to 20 aircraft within five years. Boeing 737-400 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft were identified as part of the intended fleet strategy. The airline also operated an Airbus A330-200 for flynas. That aircraft was withdrawn from use on 7 June 2016 and later returned to its lessor, Guggenheim Aviation Partners. The carrier's operating authorization was ultimately withdrawn. According to a report published by The Edge on 20 December 2016, the Malaysian Aviation Commission revoked Eaglexpress's Air Service Permit, effective 21 December 2016. The available sources do not document a subsequent restoration of the permit, a formal rebranding or a continuing commercial operation. Eaglexpress is consequently recorded as a defunct Malaysian charter airline.

• 2016

  Airbus A330-200 withdrawn from use

  [1]Eaglexpressen.wikipedia.org

  An Airbus A330-200 operated for flynas was withdrawn on 7 June and later returned to Guggenheim Aviation Partners, its lessor.

• 2016

  Air Service Permit revoked

  [2]The Edge Malaysiatheedgemalaysia.com

  The Malaysian Aviation Commission revoked Eaglexpress's Air Service Permit, with the revocation taking effect on 21 December.

• 2012

  Company established

  [1]Eaglexpressen.wikipedia.org

  Eaglexpress was set up in January as a joint venture between private investors in Malaysia and South Korea.

• 2012

  First charter operation

  [1]Eaglexpressen.wikipedia.org

  The airline operated its first charter flight in February, carrying a holiday group from South Korea to Malaysia.

• 2012

  Umrah charter program begins

  [1]Eaglexpressen.wikipedia.org

  Eaglexpress began contracted Umrah flights to Jeddah for a Malaysian travel agency, serving pilgrims from Malaysia, southern Thailand and Indonesia.

• 2012

  First Hajj service

  [1]Eaglexpressen.wikipedia.org

  The airline's first Hajj flight to Jeddah departed on 21 September.

A specialist charter and ACMI airline serving pilgrimage, leisure-group and business travel demand rather than a conventional scheduled passenger network.

• Passenger charter aviation · 2012

  Pilgrimage charter flights

  Eaglexpress organized air services for Muslim pilgrimage travel, including Umrah flights to Jeddah and a later Hajj service. Its Umrah operation was conducted under contract for a Malaysian travel agency and served passengers from Malaysia, southern Thailand and Indonesia.

• Passenger charter aviation · 2012

  Holiday charter flights

  Holiday-group charters were among the airline's initial services. The first reported flight carried a vacation group from South Korea to Malaysia, reflecting Eaglexpress's focus on organized leisure travel rather than scheduled point-to-point flying.

• Airline capacity services

  ACMI and contract operations

  The airline planned to provide aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance services for other airlines. Its Airbus A330-200 operation for flynas is an example of the type of third-party capacity assignment associated with this business model.

• 2016

  Air Service Permit revocationOther

  Background

  The Malaysian Aviation Commission reviewed Eaglexpress's authorization to conduct commercial air services in Malaysia.

  Action taken

  The commission revoked the airline's Air Service Permit, effective 21 December 2016.

  Aftermath

  The available sources do not record a subsequent restoration of the permit or a resumed operation under the Eaglexpress name.

  Source

• 2012

  Focus on charter and ACMI aviationStrategy

  Background

  Eaglexpress was established to serve pilgrimage, holiday and business charter markets and to provide ACMI services for other airlines.

  Action taken

  The airline launched organized-group and pilgrimage flying while planning a larger fleet that could support charter and contract operations.

  Aftermath

  The company operated holiday, Umrah and Hajj services and also undertook an Airbus A330-200 assignment for flynas.

  Source

1. 1Eaglexpressen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Edge Malaysiatheedgemalaysia.com