Business | Aviation
flydubai unveils first Boeing 737-800
flydubai says government's vision will be achieved as it takes delivery of first Boeing 737.
- By Nadia Saleem, Staff Reporter
- Published: 19:09 May 18, 2009
- Image Credit: Arshad Ali/Gulf News
- Media attend the flydubai preview at the Dubai Airport Expo. flydubai plans to take delivery of 50 aircraft by 2016.
Dubai: flydubai, the UAE's second low-cost carrier (LCC) after Air Arabia, on Monday marked its entry into the regional aviation sector with the unveiling of its first Boeing 737-800.
Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of flydubai, said: "For many years, the Government of Dubai has recognised the need for a low-cost carrier to serve our country. Today, we are one step closer to fulfilling that need."
The aircraft is the first of 50 to be delivered by 2016. The region has a growing demand for LCCs as passengers become more conscious of cost and corporate and first-class travel takes the brunt of air travel downturn.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates low-cost market penetration in Asia at six per cent, compared with 45 per cent in the United States. Though the region's challenge is said to be matching capacity to demand, with expanding fleets and falling traffic, the outlook is bleaker for long-haul flights. As a typical LCC, flydubai will operate flights within four-and-a-half hours of Dubai and seek to take advantage of regional air travel demand.
The region has seen many LCC success stories, starting with Air Arabia in 2003.
The airline continues to grow, having recently announced a second hub in Morocco. The airline recorded a jump of 36.5 per cent in net profits for 2008, and a 32 per cent rise in the first quarter of this year. It saw passenger numbers grow by 26 per cent, defying a global downturn in air travel. The carrier posted a turnover of Dh2.066 billion in 2008, and another Dh463 million in the first quarter of 2009, at a 21 per cent increase.
Will you be flying with FlyDubai? Will the fares encourage you to travel this summer?
Your comments
The global economic
meltdown has forced everybody,
both rich and poor, to count
their money before spending. Low
cost airlines and discount stores will flourish in the future.
A. S. Mathew
Ringgold,US
Posted: May 19, 2009, 18:31
excellent idea to have a low budget airline...especially now when people want to visit their near
Radha Parthasarathy
Bangalore,India
Posted: May 19, 2009, 16:58
I have this inner vigour that tells me very soon FlyDubai will connect Goa. It would be simply fantastic to get myself refreshed for a break away weekend. Just waiting to board this new beauty birdie.
Bernard D'Silva
Muscat,Oman
Posted: May 19, 2009, 16:45
I will fly to my home country, by whatever airline is cheap and available at the time of my travel.
But with the LCC airlines, I plan in my holidays, to visit a new country - due to these recession times, it's nice to have Fly Dubai - Hope it will be a wonderful service !!! Fly away soon Fly Dubai !
Bindu Sathianesan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 14:55
Congratulations! For the team of flyDubai. We will take a flight to our destination Goa (India). Wishing the FD Team a Great Success.
Alice
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 14:38
Dear Sadanand (previous comment). Low cost airline means: 1. LESS legroom; 2. Inconvinient time and inconvinient airports; 3. NO ticket extension, no booking - pay straight away; 4. NO change to any other airline (low cost airlines dont have interline agreements and access to intl reservation systems, unless just for info, but not for booking and reebooking); 5. NO service at all - you pay additionally if you want to eat and drink
Ivan Petrov
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 14:24
I hope this will connect to Delhi. i travel frequently and visit my parents once in a month. and I hopefully request the flydubai management to not miss this destination. It will help many people save money and to meet with their family and friends.
Nadim Al Haque
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 14:19
When is it going to start for india? If it start for India i would take flydubai. This will be a successful airline. However, we do hope to see some kind of completeness in service delivery.
Syed Nasser
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 12:58
Yes definitely even i am checking the flydubai website daily hoping that they will add Indian destinaton mumbai/ahmedabad and i will book my ticket first. Please let us know when they are going to start flying to India so we can plan our vaction accordingly.
Mustafa
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 12:44
Flights to Kozhikode(Calicut) and Mangalore - India, will attract more customers.
Sreekumar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 12:42
Introduction to all prominent sectors covering south, east, west and northern regions of India will prove lucrative for Fly Dubai
Shobha
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 12:39
It's nice to hear about Flydubai low cost airline, indeed a nice gesture to help all people. I hope the management will upload nearest destinations in short period. I wish to the management and prosperity of air line.
Fiaz Ahmad Akbar
Ras Al Khaimah,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 12:38
FlyDubai must keep up a minimum standard and not handle passengers as though free service is being offered. The sectors, it should concentrate initially should be South Indian and GCC destinations. I'm sure Flydubai would be a runaway success if they maintain high customer service standards. All the very best!
Arun
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 12:27
I hope this will connect Chennai, Presumably i travel frequent and visit my parent once in a month.
Syed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 12:24
if it will be better than other airlines in its field in service i will choose this airline .
Mohammad
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 12:10
good step forward, as this was much needed to cater to the middle and lower middle income group, which form the masses all over the world.
Prashant
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 10:38
This is very encouraging to passengers who cannot afford to pay high flight charges.
Ramavarma Ravindran
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 10:17
If fly Dubai can provide following service , i will prefer this airline as the best chioce in my travel .
1. more leg room
2. day flight
3. ticket extended validity minimum 15 days , if passenger is not able to travel.
4. in emergency case, change over to another airlines by paying nominal fee.
5. consider flydubai as the seperate layer of service between low budjet and premium airline.
6. better on-board service.
7. first aid tarined crew to take care senior citizen and child .
8. better fare and connectivity for the onward passenger, in transit .
Sadanand k. Nambiar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 08:30
Yes indeed. When the cost of travel reduces it means having the means to use it elsewhere. However, we do hope to see some kind of completeness in service delivery.
Vincy Thomas
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 08:00
yes
Harsha N
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 07:41
When it will fly to Indian destinations, especially to Kochi/cochin. Out ticket on Jazeera was cancelled and we are waiting for Flydubai.
P V Joy
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 06:44
COMMENCE FLIGHTS TO COCHIN,KERALA AND OTHER AIRPORTS.THE LAUNCH RATE OF AED250 IS AN EXCELLENT FARE
Babu Vareed
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 06:24
i will take flydubai. This will be a successful airline. With current global crisis people look at cheaper airfare. Low fare always attracts people.
Sahim
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 19, 2009, 00:54
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