DUBAI — Dubai’s pioneering low-cost airline flydubai has doubled the size of its fleet in just one year following the arrival of its 18th aircraft last week.
The new Boeing 737-800 NG represents an investment of $80 million and is the latest delivery of the order of 50 placed by flydubai at the 2008
Farnborough Airshow.
“With the induction of latest Boeing 737-800, flydubai will soon be able to not only expand the 38 destinations that it already serves, the airline will also be able to ramp up frequencies between popular city pairs from its Dubai hub thereby giving customers additional choice and flexibility as to when and how often they wish to fly,” Saj Ahmad, Chief Analyst at FBE Aerospace London, told Khaleej Times.
Overall, flydubai’s continued growth highlights the sustained and resilient low-cost travel market that exists in and around the GCC region and this demand is still underserved as the carrier grows its business, Ahmad added. Commenting on the new arrival, flydubai Chief Executive Ghaith Al Ghaith said: “We are the world’s fastest growing start-up airline and a significant contributor to our success has been our young, efficient and expanding fleet. The range and capabilities of our 18 Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft allows us to provide our customers with high-quality, low-cost links to destinations in the GCC, Middle East, North Africa, Indian Sub-Continent, Asia and the fringes of Europe.”
The new aircraft has gone straight into service just in time to support the new CIS routes launching in September, as well as the upcoming busy Eid holiday, Al Ghaith said.
The 11th in the flydubai fleet to feature the Boeing’s new sky interior and the revolutionary fibre-to-the-screen in-flight entertainment system by Lumexis. The new aircraft will also incorporate Goodrich Corp’s carbon brakes and zonal drying system, increasing fuel-efficiency and savings in emissions and costs. As the fastest growing low-cost airline, flydubai is also tapping into lucrative money saving features to ensure that it keeps a lid on costs against a backdrop of rising and unstable fuel prices, Ahmad said.
“Incorporating carbon brakes saves over 300kg per airplane and with lighter in flight entertainment, this translates into a lighter 737-800 which in turn means lower maintenance costs and lower fuel burn. Future 737-800 deliveries will also hone in on engine efficiency too as CFM International’s CFM56-7BE engine will deliver up to 2 per cent better fuel burn on all forthcoming 737s which have aerodynamic airframe improvements that cut drag and fuel burn.
“All in all, flydubai is very likely at this November’s Dubai Air Show to commit to Boeings newly announced re-engined 737, to be powered by the CFM International LEAP engine, bring reduced fuel burn by up to 15 per cent,” he added.
Source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com
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