Flydubai celebrates first year

Flydubai has completed its first full year in operation with almost one million passenger bookings and more than three quarters of a million passengers to date.

The airline was established by the Government of Dubai in March 2008 with the aim of making travel within a four and a half hour flight radius of Dubai easier, more accessible and more affordable.

Flydubai’s first flight took off to Beirut on 1 June 2009 and just 12 months later the airline has built a network of 21 destinations, 16 of which are operational, with five to follow later this month. This might just mean that flydubai has become the fastest growing start-up airline ever.

Since the start of operations to Beirut and Amman in June 2009, traffic on the Dubai-Beirut route has increased by 33% and Dubai-Amman has grown by 40%.

Flydubai give people the option to purchase checked baggage, seats and meals, with 83% of passengers purchasing an item of food or drink, 30% of passengers paying to select their seat and 56% paying for checked baggage. Around 44% of people travelled with just hand luggage, which shows just how well this style of travelling has been accepted in the Middle East market.

In the first year flydubai operated almost 8,000 flights and of those 85% departed on time. In May alone there were more than 1,000 flights and 92% of them departed on time.

Above: His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum Chairman of flydubai and flydubai's CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith along with the cabin crew portraying flydubai's 21 routes.

Flydubai’s fleet of eight brand new Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft are being worked hard to ensure they are kept in the air as much as possible. The year end average aircraft utilisation is expected to be around 14.5 hours.

Currently flydubai employs more than 500 staff from almost 70 countries, including more than 100 pilots and more than 200 cabin crew.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai said: “We would not be where we are today without the vision and leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai - and it is thanks to the guidance and support of our Chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum that we are in such a strong position after such a short time. We are also grateful to our many partners and supporters including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economy, GCAA, DCAA, Dubai Police, DNRD, Emirates, Dnata, Dubai Customs, Dubai International Airport, DTCM, and the many embassies and consulates that have supported us over the last year.

Above: His Excellency Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, receiving an award from Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum Chairman of flydubai and flydubai's CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith.

“We are very proud of what we have achieved this year. We have a taken a theory and turned it into a reality and that reality is a product that people really like.

“We have big plans for the future and we hope to continue to be as successful as we have been in our first year.”

The airline shows no let-up in the speed of its growth, expecting to receive a further five aircraft in the coming months, whilst aiming to further strengthen its network across the region by flying to over 25 destinations by the end of this year.