Flydubai prepares its pilots and crew

Dubai: Flydubai, Dubai's first low-cost airline, said it has completed the selection process of its pilots and crew in preparation for the airline's launch.

The airline received more than 11,500 applications in the past few months from flight and cabin crew keen to join flydubai before its launch in a few months.

Over 8,000 candidates for pilots alone were screened, of which 61 captains and 18 first officers, representing more than 12 nationalities have been selected.

So far, 80 cabin crew have been employed from the 3,500 applications received. The first group of 21 cabin crew and 24 captains are currently undergoing training in preparation for flydubai's launch in a few months' time.

Routes will include destinations within four and a half hours' flying time of Dubai. Flydubai will operate a fleet of new Next-Generation Boeing 737-800s, each with 189 economy class seats. The airline said it will announce details of its initial routes soon, it will operate from Dubai airport's Terminal 2.

Kenneth Gile, flydubai's chief operating officer, said he was satisfied with the pilots the airline has hired.

"On average, they each have more than 4,000 hours serving as captains in similar aircraft and a total experience of more than 8,000 flying hours - this is impressive by any standard. Candidate screening and selection is now complete and we thank Emirates for their valuable support, expertise and experience throughout this process," he said in a statement.

Flydubai pilots include senior managers, chief pilots, chief technical pilots, director of flight operations and several certified type rating examiners (TRE), which represents the highest accomplishment a pilot can obtain.

"We have had a huge response from applicants who are keen to come and join us, which shows the excitement amongst flight crew at the prospect of joining a new and exciting airline and also demonstrates that Dubai is still seen as an attractive place to live and work. Flydubai aims to provide the best possible service and value to our customers and of course with the utmost of safety and professionalism, so we are especially pleased to have such experienced pilots on our team," said Gaith Al Gaith, CEO of flydubai.

Would you travel with FlyDubai? Do you look at price when travelling? Or is luxury more important? Tell us below

I will be very much delighted if they have daily flight to Peshawar because the demand is too much.
Shakir
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 19, 2009, 13:44

Yes, I would like travel Flydubai, more even if there is a direct flight to Pune
Nikhil Jog
Pune,India
Posted: March 19, 2009, 13:39

I would like to travel with Flydubai if they introduce a daily flight to Trichirappalli.
Mohammad Yehya
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 19, 2009, 13:38

I would love to fly with this low cost airline, but it all depends on availability, the cost and the timings.
Adil Aziz
Karachi,Pakistan
Posted: March 19, 2009, 13:38

I wish Flydubai would start weekly flight to kandahar, and day flights to kabul, i and many other passengers will be very happy to travel by flydubai, flydubai will be the only foreign airline to offer service between dubai kanbul and dubai kandahar
Rahmat Kamran
Kandahar,Afghanistan
Posted: March 19, 2009, 13:26

i would love to fly flydubai
Adil
Manama,Bahrain
Posted: March 19, 2009, 13:22

Very much excited to hear one more budget airline starting from one of the worlds beautiful city. Definitely would like you to start direct flights to Goa India and between 7 to 9pm so that we don?t ruin our night sleep. Thank you and best of luck.
Nitin
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 19, 2009, 13:21

I would like to travel in Flydubai. i think it will be very useful airline for lower income people, i hope it works. it will be wonderful if your flying time to my home city peshawer in morning. Best Of Luck Flydubai.
Asad Bashir Khattak
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 19, 2009, 13:12

We all Punekars are excited to read that FlyDubai would be starting service to Pune. We would appreciate convenient timings and expecting reasonable fares. Very large community from Pune in the UAE is eagerly waiting for FlyDubai launch.
M. M. K.
Pune,India
Posted: March 19, 2009, 13:10

Expecting daily flights from Fly dubai to Cochin (Kochi)
Joseph Babu
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 19, 2009, 13:00

Definitely looking for price but basic facilities should be there or on demand we can purchase the luxuries if required. Expecting an air route to Kolkata also .
Abhijeet Raha
Kolkata,India
Posted: March 19, 2009, 12:55

I look forward to flying to Kochi with FlyDubai. Congratulations to the management of this airline and wish every success in their endevours.
K. R. Jayaprakash
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 19, 2009, 12:55

I was excited at the launch of the new airline. I expect this will be an added boom to this happening place Dubai. Sincerely hope if you can have a route to Kolkata (India) also.
Abhijeet Raha
Kolkata,India
Posted: March 19, 2009, 12:48

I look for the best deal, luxury is not very important for me but i would make sure that an airline has a good reputation.
Deboo Chatterjee
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 19, 2009, 12:35

I guess with recession hitting worldwide it makes sense to travel with price in mind. but I guess people used to travel Buisness and First Class will fly buisness and first no matter what.
Hrishikesh Bobhate
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 19, 2009, 12:34

I would like to travel with FlyDubai subject to the availability of flight from Dubai T2 to my home city Peshawar, Pakistan.
Mohammad Shakeel Khattak
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 19, 2009, 12:20

Yes, I would fly this summer if there is flights to Amman, Jordan.
Mohammad
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: March 19, 2009, 11:12

I would like to travel in Flydubai. Being a low cost airline I will surely be looking at the price. For low cost airline everyone will be giving importance to the price and luxury comes afterwards, now when more budjet airlines are there I will look which airline gives luxury at low cost.
Steve. G
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: March 19, 2009, 10:57

Please start atleast three flights a week to Pune. Most importantly is to fly during peak time ie 7am to 9pm. The flying time being max three hours please do not put night flights as for will stay awake the whole night.
Thomas Jacob
Pune,India
Posted: March 19, 2009, 10:20