While we're not really so sure that fading Dubai needs another airline flying in, LCC FlyDubai has gone ahead and launched itself anyway. A few months back the new government-owned airline was promising a June 1 start, and they've surprisingly delivered right on time with flights to Beirut and Amman.

Special offers on the FlyDubai website at the moment include Dubai to Alexandria flights for 350 AED ($95) and Dubai to Damascus for a bit less than that even. And while the website is pleasant enough, we're not sure about the company slogan we found there: "How will you flydubai?" Yes, how will we? Isn't the answer to that an anticlimactic "on flydubai?"

FlyDubai is just two planes-strong at the moment, but they've got grand plans. With 52 more planes on order, it'll be interesting to see which additional destinations they pick up along the way—assuming they actually create a market for themselves. They're talking about "India and beyond", which apparently includes eastern Europe and northern Africa, and boy, what we'd give to see these materialize. Our next trip around Eastern Europe could include a weekend in Dubai; what a nice dream.

Related Stories:
· FlyDubai [Official Site]
· Dubai's First Low Cost Carrier Lands in Amman [Zawya]
· FlyDubai Is Finally Ready To Go Starting June 1 [Jaunted]

[Photo: Drewski2112] ]]> amandak 2009-06-03T09:15:09-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/29/10226/6134

Mountain men, rejoice! Freshly announced from Boeing is a new, taller 737 cabin design which will free up more headroom and actually allow passengers of average heights to stand up in their seats and stretch. Gone are the days of contorting yourself while waiting to grab your carry-ons and disembark.

To reconfigure the cabin of the workhorse 737, Boeing looked at the spaciousness of the upcoming 787 Dreamliners (set to roll out in Seattle within a week) and the pivoting overhead bins of 777s of 15 years ago. The result, the "737 Sky Interior," features these tucked-away bins to relieve the claustrophobia of the past while borrowing a Virgin America's touch of mood lighting to highlight the lofty aisle.

So where will the more statuesque folk feel more comfortable flying in the future? Boeing has already sold a bunch of these 737s, which also include fuel-conserving engine upgrades, to big and small airline names alike: Continental Airlines, FlyDubai, GOL of Brazil, Lion Air Indonesia, Malaysia Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle and TUIfly. Just don't go wearing your 10-gallon hat on board quite yet; sadly these big babies won't be hitting the tarmac until next year.

Related Stories:
· Spiffed up 737 will let passengers stand tall at their seats [Seattle Times]
· Boeing Unveils Performance, Comfort Changes to Next-Generation 737s [Bername]
· Boeing Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Seattle Times]]]> JetSetCD 2009-04-29T11:26:46-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/8/6453/15431

Even though things are no longer on the up and up in Dubai, officials are finally moving forward with the low cost carrier FlyDubai. Apparently, they feel there’s still a little bit of interest in visiting the Middle Eastern hot spot. After what seems like forever, the airline is set to debut its brand new Boeing 737-800s starting this June from Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport. Just remember to keep your hands to yourself during the boarding process. ]]> kjb 2009-04-08T09:26:34-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/2/23/71946/2151

When we last left FlyDubai, they were planning a launch during the first half of 2009, when the global economic situation was slightly better off than it is today. Well, the airline hasn’t received its order of 737s from Boeing, but they are still holding onto a 2009 launch date despite what others have to say about it.]]> kjb 2009-02-23T11:19:07-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/6/153656/655

The head of start-up Flydubai says that his low cost carrier will still launch in the first half of 2009--even though delivery of its new planes will be delayed by the just-ended Boeing strike. The extra wait for the first of the 50 new 737s on order direct from the manufacturer could be as short as two weeks, says the airline, but really, who knows how long it might actually take.

Flydubai is starting small with only five aircraft scheduled in the first year, serving destinations within four hours of the United Arab Emirates. That puts India, Pakistan, Eastern Europe and parts of Africa within range, and while the carrier says 70 destinations are possible by 2014, that would require, well, lots more planes being delivered on time.

In the meantime, maybe now's a good time to lock in some low jet fuel prices?

Related Stories:
· Dubai LCC in Talks with Boeing [Arabian Business]
· New Airlines: Flydubai to Be "Efficient" and "No Frills" [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-11-06T15:45:08-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/29/103644/535

It's been a rough year so far for LCCs in the US and Europe, but budget airlines in the Middle East must not be feeling the same economic pressures. How else to explain that Air Arabia is about to create a new hub in Rabat, Morocco.

The carrier, which has its home base at Sharjah International in the UAE, is planning to add dozens of new A320s in the coming years as it expands service to Northern Africa and Europe. Air Arabia plans to work with the thrillingly-named Moroccan carrier Regional Air Lines on some routes, but specifics still haven't been announced.

While it's surprising to see any airline expanding, maybe this shouldn't come as such a shock: Emirati newcomer Flydubai is planning its first low-cost flights in the region sometime in 2009.

Related Stories:
· Air Arabia [Official Site]
· UAE's LCC to Launch Hub in Morocco [Xinhua]
· Low Cost Carriers coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Air Arabia]]]> pbb 2008-09-29T11:00:35-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/10/1743/13544

Flydubai, the new LCC from the government of the emirate, says it'll start service by the second quarter of 2009, serving 12 destinations within a year.]]> pbb 2008-09-10T17:10:25-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/