EUROPEAN COASTAL AIRLINE TO START OPERATING IN APRIL

ZAGREB, Jan 31 (Hina) - Croatia's new airline - the European Coastal Airline (ECA), which was presented on Wednesday, will offer transport services in the Croatian Adriatic area and subsequently in neighbouring Mediterranean areas as well. The decision on establishing a new airline was made because the existing shipping, speed-boat and air connections do not meet transport needs, the heads of the new airline, Xaver Schmid and Claus Dieter Martin, told reporters. ECA will have two to four planes type Grumman Goose (ten seats) and Mallard (16 seats) and will employ 81 workers in the first three years. The company plans 635 flights along the Adriatic coast, from Pula to Dubrovnik. The airline should start operating in April this year and details and price-lists will be announced subsequently. Apart from transport services, the company plans to develop an accompanying air-technical service centre, which is to provide services for third clients and foreign market demand for maintenance of plane engines and technical maintenance of sport and private jets. ECA's majority owner is Zagreb's Coastal Capital Investments company, established by foreign investors. The entire investment into the new airline is worth DM24 million. (hina) rml