A new regional airline business says it will open bookings for flights from Rotterdam The Hague Airport next month, mainly serving destinations in the UK. The carrier, Europort Express, describes itself as a venture “tailored specifically to the modern day traveler” and plans to launch reservations online and via telephone on June 11, 2012 ahead of a proposed September 17, 2012 launch.

The airline has revealed a list of planned destinations which include Aberdeen, Durham Tees Valley, Humberside, London Southend and Manchester in the UK, Geneva in Switzerland; Hamburg in Germany and Dublin in the Republic of Ireland but no further details of its schedule. According to sources close to the carrier the routes will be introduced on a phased basis with flights operating on a twice daily basis with three times daily services in some cases.

No details are yet known on the timescale for the launch, although the carrier has stated on its Facebook page that the services to Hamburg will begin in January 2013 and will be operated using a BAe Jetstream 32. The social media site also suggests that Europort Express will operate with larger Fokker 50 turboprops.

In discussions on one aviation forum, someone claiming to be from the airline has said the venture will seek to take advantage of existing demand between Rotterdam and its target markets, especially those linked to the shipping industry, many of whom currently have to fly via Amsterdam Schiphol due to limited availability directly to Rotterdam.

“We are aware of the existing demand routing via Amsterdam, we want to bring them straight to Rotterdam. This is targeted at the modern day business traveller, but should also prove to be a route of interest during holiday periods for the leisure traveller,” the representative is reported as saying.

“Our plans are to grow and expand route opportunities out of Rotterdam The Hague Airport as an ongoing matter,” says the carrier on its corporate website. “Europort Express is a start-up regional carrier based at Rotterdam The Hague Airport (NL). Initially we will serve 10 key routes from Rotterdam Airport with two regional aircraft,” it adds.

On the site the company also details more information on the airline’s pricing and in-flight offering. “We are to operate a strict ‘same route, same date, same fare’ policy. Whether you book three months or three days in advance, you can always expect to pay the same set fare for the date of travel. We won't penalise you for peak or seasonal travel. On boarding any of our flights, you will be presented with your own fabric bag containing food and drink you chose at time of booking for no extra cost. You can even take the bag home with you as a memory of your experience with Europort Express.”