Flydubai Tripling its Fleet of Aircraft
The Dubai government-owned airline, Flydubai, is expected to triple its size in the next two years, according to its chief executive officer, Ghaith Al Ghaith: "We aim to double our size by 2010 and triple it by 2012." The airline will add six new aircraft this year; its fleet will then contain 13 aircraft. Flydubai will take delivery of six new Boeing 737-800 aircraft this year, plus add eight additional planes each year through 2016. Flydubai ordered a total of 50 aircraft in 2008, spending US$4 billion.
Flydubai currently flies to 12 destinations. The airline started service just two years ago in 2008. It was thought there was ample room for another airline in addition to the presigious Emirates. Adding a new terminal and additional facility enhancements makes the expansion feasible. In 2007, Dubai's airport capacity was 25 million pasengers a year. It is now 70 million. Plus the opening of the Jabel Ali airport allows further growth of Dubai's aviation industry.
Flydubai CEO Ghaith said one of prime advantages of the airline is its new fleet, which is more environmentally friendly plus has lower fuel consumption than older aircraft. Flydubai now flies to two cities in Kuwait, plus Doha and Bahrain. They are considering new routes to India, as well as to Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Iran.
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