Jaunted

Flydubai

Boeing Strike Not Stopping 2009 Launch Of Flydubai

November 6, 2008 at 3:45 PM | 0 Comments

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]

LCCs

Air Arabia Launching Preemtive Strike on Flydubai

September 29, 2008 at 11:00 AM | 0 Comments

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]

Flydubai

New Airlines: Flydubai to Be "Efficient" and "No Frills"

September 10, 2008 at 5:10 PM | 0 Comments

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.

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Kenneth Gile

Flydubai Will Use Southwest, Not Skybus, Strategy for Success

August 13, 2008 at 11:50 AM | 0 Comments

Newly appointed Flydubai COO Ken Gile plans to keep costs down at his new low cost carrier by hedging the cost of fuel, a strategy most notably used by perennially profitable Southwest Airlines--but not at Skybus, where he was president and COO until the carrier went bankrupt in April.

The specifics are still being worked out, says Gile:

We are focusing on implementing a successful hedging plan and Southwest Airline's hedging strategy is something we could look at. Fuel is one of the biggest expenses for any airline so we have to look at ways to control it in order to be able to offer the lowest fares in the region.

Flydubai also plans to lower costs by promoting electronic booking and keeping planes in the sky as much as possible, two strategies Skybus did use. Wonder if the new airline will have a call center?

Related Stories:
· Flydubai Plans to Use Fuel Hedging [Emirates Business]
· Post-Skybus Life: Ex-COO Tapped for Flydubai Gig [Jaunted]
· Skybus CEO "Respects" Southwest [Jaunted]

Kenneth Gile

Post-Skybus Life: Ex-COO Tapped for Flydubai Gig

August 5, 2008 at 1:20 PM | 1 Comment

New low cost carrier Flydubai will have a familiar face running the show: Former Skybus COO Kenneth Gile. He's been tapped to tackle the same job for the nascent airline, which hopes to be flying by summer of next year.

It won't be the first time in the Persian Gulf for Gile, as he started his commercial career with Saudi Arabian Airlines before joining Southwest, eventually become the Texas LCC's chief pilot and director of flight operations.

He's not the only Skybus refugee moving overseas, either, it seems. Marla Matzer Rose at the Columbus Dispatch reports that some of the defunct airline's pilots are now working in China. Maybe they'll get rated to fly those nifty new ARJ21s?

Related Stories:
· Flydubai Appoints New COO [Xpress]
· Ex-Skybus Prez Lands in Dubai [CD]
· Flydubai to Launch by 2009 [Jaunted]

New Airlines

New Airlines: Flydubai to Launch by 2009

July 15, 2008 at 3:31 PM | 0 Comments

The new airline Flydubai just announced that it bought 50 737-800s, a deal worth almost $4 billion at list prices. The carrier, owned by the government of Dubai, plans to start service by summer of 2009, meaning those Boeings will have to come off the assembly line soon. Rumor has it Flydubai is jumping the production queue by snapping up aircraft deliveries that American airlines have deferred.

Where will those 50 new planes fly?

To Dubai from the whole Middle East region, North and East Africa, Southeast Europe and the Indian subcontinent.

Specific routes still haven't been announced. As for fares, Flydubai says ticket prices will be "extremely competitive."

Related Stories:
· Flydubai [Official Site]
· Dubai Sheik Buys Boeing Jets for New Airline [NYT]
· New Airlines coverage [Jaunted]