Flydubai not moving out of Dubai International
Carrier says it will operate from both Dubai International, Al Maktoum Airport
Budget carrier flydubai confirmed yesterday it will not be moving its operations out of Dubai International Airport and into Al Maktoum Airport, and that it will expand its operations in both airports.
“We already have operations in Al Maktoum, and we will grow our operations in Al Maktoum and we will operate in both airports. The word is not ‘move,’ it’s ‘expanding’ in both airports,” said Gaith Al Gaith, chief executive officer of flydubai.
Flydubai currently operates out of both airports, with its hub at Dubai International, the busiest airport in the world in terms of international passenger traffic. Dubai has been working to expand the city’s second airport, Al Maktoum International to absorb expected growth in visitors to Dubai.
Speaking to Gulf News at the Arabian Travel Market exhibition yesterday, Al Gaith also discussed the carrier’s expansion plans as well as challenges in the operating environment.
The CEO said he saw “lots of opportunities” in Europe, especially in east and southern ■ Europe.
On Sunday, flydubai announced it will launch direct flights to Helsinki from October. The launch will make flydubai the first UAE-based carrier to offer year-round services between Dubai and the Finnish capital.
Al Gaith said flydubai will be launching flights to other routes with “a similar DNA” to Helsinki. He said these routes, which are now more viable given flydubai’s partnership with Emirates airline, will be in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
In July 2017, Emirates and flydubai announced a partnership agreement that include code-sharing and schedule alignment.
Yesterday, Emirates and flydubai released passenger numbers for the first six months of their partnership that was announced in July 2017. The first code-share flights started in October 2017.