Dubai: Saudi Arabian low-cost carrier nasair is no longer set to fly out of Dubai’s newest airport later this month when it opens to passenger traffic despite previous statements.
Earlier this year, Dubai Airports announced that nasair would be one of the launch carriers flying out of Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central (DWC) on October 27 2013 when it opened to passenger traffic.
A spokesperson for nasair stated in an email the airline was in the process of evaluating the financial feasibility of operations from the new airport.
“We are unable to indicate at this point of time, the appropriate timeframe when we would be able to start our operations from DWC airport,” the spokesperson said.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said he was still optimistic nasair would eventually be operating out of DWC.
He said that a complete change of management has lead to the Saudi-based airline to rethinking their strategy including its future operations from DWC.
Griffiths said that Dubai Airports has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with nasair that outlines their intention to fly out of DWC.
“The difficulty is that airlines are usually quite late to confirm there intentions,” he said.
nasair currently operate out of Dubai International. It is unclear whether nasair would move their existing Dubai operations to the new airport or add new services.
Griffiths confirmed that nasair are under no legal obligations to honour the MoU.
Whilst Dubai Airports now looks at no longer having one of its launch carriers at the new airport for at least the immediate future it was confirmed today that Kuwaiti-based low cost carrier Jazeera Airways would begin operations from DWC on October 31 2013.
The Kuwaiti airline stated in a press release it would begin twice weekly flights between Kuwait and Dubai’s newest airport at the end of the month. The airline confirmed it will maintain its current operations out of Dubai International.
Griffiths said it was fantastic to have Jazeera Airways signed up ahead of operations.
Hungarian-based low cost carrier Wizz Air, who were announced by Dubai Airports alongside nasair as launch carriers, are on track to start operations from DWC this month.
A spokesperson for the Hungarian airline stated in an email that “Wizz Air is very much looking forward to commence operations in DWC in late October.”
He said Dubai Airports is currently in negotiations with at least five airlines to fly out of DWC.
