Flydubai to start DWC operations in October

Dubai - The low-cost airline will commence its winter schedule simultaneously from Dubai World Central and Dubai International on October 25.

Flydubai on Tuesday announced plans to start its flight operations from Dubai World Central (DWC) in October to meet growing demand of passengers and sustain its growth in coming years.
The Dubai-based airline, which started its operations in 2009, will commence its winter schedule simultaneously from Dubai World Central and Dubai International on October 25. It will initially operate 70 flights per week from DWC during winter. These will benefit business and leisure passengers.
Flights to Amman, Beirut, Chittagong, Doha, Kathmandu, Kuwait and Muscat, for both business and economy passengers, will become available from DWC and DXB. The airline will progressively grow its passenger and cargo operations at DWC over the next few years.
"The start of our new operations at DWC provides further opportunities for growth for flydubai as we take delivery of more than 100 new Boeing aircraft by 2023. We will continue to play an important role in the future of aviation in the UAE," said Ghaith Al Ghaith, chief executive officer of flydubai.
The low-lost airline placed its second order worth $8.8 billion for 75 Boeing 737 Max 8 and 11 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft at Dubai Airshow in 2013. The first Boeing 737-800 aircraft from the latest order will be delivered between 2016 and 2017 while 737 Max delivery will commence in the second half of 2017.
The airline will see the fulfillment of its $4 billion order placed in 2008 for 50 aircraft when the last aircraft from this order arrives later this year. "We see this as the first step to increase opportunities for travel across Dubai. With the delivery of eight new aircraft each year for the next few years and as we prepare for the first delivery of the new model Boeing 737 Max, we remain focused on supporting travel, trade and tourism by enhancing connectivity from Dubai's two airports," Al Ghaith said.
The development of DWC will allow the UAE's aviation sector to continue to grow strongly over the next decades. Following the recent decision to expand capacity at the existing terminal at DWC to 26 million by 2018, flydubai has taken the opportunity to offer its passengers the choice of flying from Dubai's two airports.
"DWC is the new frontier of aviation in the UAE. There are very few international cities that do not have more than one airport and Dubai is planning to build the world's largest airport," Al Ghaith said. "We believe that our new operations will offer the same enhanced travel experience to our passengers and will enable us to cover more of Dubai."
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said this is great news for travellers to and from Dubai and a strong endorsement of the growth strategy planned for a two-airport city.
Customers will now have the choice of a range of services at two world-class airports, he added.
"Customers of flydubai will benefit from the convenience and efficiency of the new facilities at DWC. The arrival of flydubai will see a significant increase in the choice of destinations available at DWC," he said.
Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero research, said flydubai's decision to start DWC operations not only provides an additional organic growth capability for the airline, but it also paves the way for a permanent shift there once the airport is fully developed. That would unlock flydubai's long-term growth potential if it chooses to relocate entirely, he added.
"Additional flights from DWC also effectively allows for flydubai to harness demand from neighbouring Abu Dhabi, which does not have a low-cost airline operating there - and this will certainly appeal to intra-GCC travellers that may not want to travel all the way to Dubai from Abu Dhabi," Ahmad told Khaleej Times.
The airline has created a network of 94 destinations, announcing 18 new routes since the start of 2015 and includes 59 routes that did not previously have direct air links to Dubai.
"Flydubai is already the biggest low-cost airline in the region and this move will further cement its number one position and throws down the gauntlet to its less agile rivals," Ahmad said.
- muzaffarrizvi@khaleejtimes.com