FlyDubai, a startup low cost carrier (LCC) owned by the Dubai government, which plans to launch service in mid-2009, placed a firm order for 50 Boeing737-800s valued at US$3.74 billion during the recent Farnborough Airshow.
The carrier also will lease four B737-800s from Babcock & Brown.First delivery is scheduled for May 2009 through to 2015. CEO Ghaith AlGhaith, formerly Emirates executive VP-commercial operations worldwide, said the carrier plans to operate an all economy737-800 fleet with each aircraft configured for 189 seats.
While not announcing a network, he told reporters at the Farnborough Airshow that the LCC will serve “a four and-a-half-hour radius from Dubai,” and will operate out of the new Al Maktoum International airport at Jebel Ali.
“The [first] runway is finished now and we expect [the airport] will be in operation by the middle of next year,” AlGhaith said, noting that FlyDubai would be the first passenger carrier to operate there following cargo flights slated to begin in the 2009 second quarter.
“The Boeing Next-Generation 737 isideally suited to our mission to bring some two billion regional inhabitants affordable, efficient and flexible travel options to and from Dubai,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman of the new low-cost airline.
Although Emirates is assisting in the setting up of the airline, both will berun as separate entities, although both carriers will share the same chairman.