Dubai’s new low cost airline has been named FlyDubai. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE vice president, prime minister and ruler of Dubai, has approved the name FlyDubai from a shortlist presented by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of the new low cost airline.
Sheikh Ahmed said, “FlyDubai is a simple, yet powerful call to action. It makes an immediate link to our core business, which is providing no frills flights to bring people to and from Dubai.
The new airlines operations will potentially cover an area of some two billion inhabitants, according to Sheikh Ahmed. “It will support Dubai’s commercial and tourism sectors by serving a new set of travellers, and providing them with affordable air links to popular, high demand destinations. A lot of ground work has been done thus far, and I’m pleased to note that FlyDubai is on track to launch its first flights by mid-2009.”
FlyDubai will initially focus on regional flights within the GCC area and surrounding countries. Its operations will be entirely separate from Emirates Airline and Group.
Ghaith al Ghaith, chief executive, FlyDubai said, “Since the government announced the formation of Dubai’s new low cost airline in March, it has been all systems go. We are recruiting for key positions, evaluating aircraft options and routes, working out our pricing and distribution strategy, and putting in place the structure and operational resources for the business.”
NEW AIRCRAFT
FlyDubai has ordered 54 next generation 737-800 aircraft from Boeing in a deal worth $4 billion at the recently held Farnborough Airshow. The deal - comprising a firm order for 50 aircraft from Boeing and a separate leasing agreement with Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management for a further four Boeing 737-800s - marks the biggest single order by a Gulf based low cost carrier for Boeing aircraft. Ghaith Al Ghaith, dubbed the deal as a major milestone in the development of FlyDubai.