Flydubai eyes major shift to Al Maktoum International in 2017

Dubai - Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said airlines tend to be "conservative" in their planning, but added that flydubai's imminent arrival with 70 flights a week will give DWC a fresh boost.

Flydubai will move its major operations to Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central (DWC) in 2017, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects chief executive officer (CEO) Suzanne Al Anani told a news conference in Dubai on Wednesday.
"There will be a major but not total relocation of flydubai flights in 2017. The passenger terminal capacity [at Al Maktoum International] is being expanded from five million to 26 million passengers a year," Al Anani said.
In August this year, flydubai announced that it would commence new passenger services from Al Maktoum International from October 25, 2015, the commencement of its winter schedule, as it continues its operations from Dubai International (DXB).  
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said airlines tend to be "conservative" in their planning, but added that flydubai's imminent arrival with 70 flights a week will give DWC a fresh boost.
"We are not forcing airlines but giving them a choice because of congestion at Dubai International," Griffiths said.
There is an incentives package with desired slots for airlines moving to DWC, he added.
Starting from this month, flydubai flights to Amman, Beirut, Chittagong, Doha, Kathmandu, Kuwait and Muscat, for both business and economy passengers, will become available from DWC. Flights to these destinations will continue to be available from DXB.
"We have committed to 70 flights a week to seven destinations from DWC. We will continue to operate from both of Dubai's airports.  Increased capacity will be dependent on airport facilities and passenger demand," a flydubai spokesperson told Khaleej Times.
The development of DWC will allow the UAE's aviation sector to continue to grow strongly over the next decades. Following the recent decision to expand capacity at the existing terminal at DWC to 26 million by 2018, flydubai has taken the opportunity to offer its passengers the choice of flying from Dubai's two airports."DWC is the new frontier of aviation in the UAE. There are very few international cities that do not have more than one airport and Dubai is planning to build the world's largest airport. The start of our new operations at DWC provides further opportunities for growth for flydubai.
"With 70 flights a week starting at DWC from October 25, we see this as a first step to increase opportunities for travel across Dubai. With the delivery of more than 100 aircraft due between 2016 and 2023, we remain focused on supporting travel, trade and tourism by enhancing connectivity from Dubai's two airports," the spokesperson added.
- abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai