KUALA LUMPUR (June 26): Eaglexpress Air Charter Sdn Bhd, whose air service permit (ASP) was revoked by the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) in 2016, will submit a fresh application next month to restart its service, with an initial capital outlay of US$100 million.

"We will submit a new application next month. We hope it will be approved, as we are excited to open a new chapter in our aviation journey," its president Captain Azlan Zailan Abidin told a press conference today. 

The airline will focus on providing Hajj and Umrah charter service to Saudi Arabia, as well as cargo services. 

Azlan said the airline is also looking at reviving the routes abandoned by Malaysia Airlines Bhd and providing scheduled services to South Africa, South America, Argentina and Manchester.

To this, Azlan hopes the government will remove protectionist measures that are normally accorded to larger airlines, so as to ensure a fair and level-playing field. 

"We will probably make the inaugural flight towards the end of the year, and hope to provide the Umrah and Hajj services too," he said. 

To cater for pilgrims to Mecca and Madina, Azlan said the new airlines is looking towards serve a rising demand in populous Muslim countries such as Indonesia and Bangladesh. 

"In fact, we have been talking with Indonesian carrier Garuda, and Bangladeshi airline Biman. Opportunity is abundant in this area," he said. 

"For Umrah, we are looking to fly in around 25,000 to 28,000 pilgrims by as early as October," Azlan added. 

The airline plans to wet lease four to five used aircraft from a third party, comprising Boeing 777s, 747s and Airbus A330s, he said. 

Azlan said he wants to leave the "sad chapter" that had cost Eaglexpress over RM300 million in losses, when it was wound up. 

"Eaglexpress was wound up by one of our creditors Malaysia Airlines, as a result of an irresponsible action by Mavcom. But it is a fate that I have come to terms with and all I have to do now is to move forward," he added.