Dubai: The UAE's aviation industry will soon see a third low-cost carrier after approvals are granted, Saif Mohammad Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the General Civil Aviation Authority, told Gulf News Wednesday.
A group of UAE investors is seeking an airline licence from the authority and the study is in the final stages, he said.
Al Suwaidi declined to name either the investors or provide specifics on the airline size and launch schedule. More details would be provided within a month, he said.
The third carrier would enter a market that is seeing steady growth.
The city's first low-cost carrier, flydubai, said yesterday it flew more than 750,000 passengers in its first year of operations.
Air Arabia, the region's first budget airline, has carried over 10 million passengers in its seven years.
Currently operating eight Boeing 737-800s, flydubai launched services to 16 destinations within 12 months, and plans to have 40 destinations by 2011, chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith told Gulf News. After recently launching flights to Baku, Nepal and Sri Lanka, flydubai will soon launch services to Lucknow.
"In the next year, we will grow as fast or faster," Al Ghaith said. Waiting for delivery of 42 more 737s, he said flydubai will have 13 aircraft by the end of next year. With ongoing financing of new aircraft and rapid growth in passengers, flydubai is targeting to break even within two years.
