flydubai names Doha as first GCC destination
flydubai is to begin an intra-GCC service with the announcement today of flights to the Qatari capital Doha
Monday, October 5, 2009 — flydubai, Dubai’s first low cost airline, is to begin an intra-GCC service with the announcement today of flights to the Qatari capital Doha.
The twice daily flights, which will begin in less than three weeks’ time on October 18, will be the first direct service between Dubai and Qatar to be operated by a low cost airline.
HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of flydubai, said: “flydubai was established by the government of Dubai in March 2008 in order to provide a quality service at a reasonable price and thereby make safe, efficient and comfortable flights available to many more people in this region. The importance of low cost intra-GCC flights cannot be underestimated. Our communities are close in many ways and these new flights from flydubai will help to bring us closer in terms of both business and leisure.
“flydubai has worked closely with the Qatari authorities to bring about this announcement and I would like to thank them, and especially H.E. Abdul Aziz Mohd. Al-Noaimi, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, for their hard work and support. I look forward to continuing the long and successful relationship between our two nations with the advent of flydubai’s twice daily service between Dubai and Doha.”
H.E. Abdul Aziz Mohd. Al-Noaimi, Chairman of Qatar Civil Aviation Authority warmly welcomed the new service: “flydubai will be a great addition to the existing flight schedule between Doha and Dubai as it will give so many more people another option when travelling.
“Doha and Dubai are both great examples of successful cities that have gained international recognition. This new service will strengthen our links and help us both maintain our growth well into the future.”
flydubai’s CEO, Ghaith Al Ghaith, said: “I am delighted to announce another first for flydubai today – the first direct flight between Dubai and Qatar to be operated by a low cost airline. As a low cost airline we will complement other carriers on this route because we will provide a different type of service targeting a different type of customer.
“Both Dubai and Doha are vibrant and busy cities that have also been recognised by the World Economic Forum as the Arab world’s most competitive economies. As business and leisure centres we have a lot in common and we believe there’s enormous potential to grow the market for air travel capacity between Qatar and the UAE. flydubai’s new service is intended to benefit the economies of both the UAE and Qatar and help to increase passenger numbers overall by making air travel more accessible and affordable to a wider group of people.”
Both flights will target peak travel times on one of the busiest routes in the GCC. FZ001 will leave Dubai at 0730hrs, with the evening flight FZ007 leaving at 2020hrs. The flight time to Doha is one hour. Return flights FZ002 and FZ008 will leave Doha at 0830hrs and 2120hrs respectively, arriving in Dubai at 1030hrs and 2320hrs local time.
One-way fares to Doha from Dubai will cost from AED200, which includes all taxes and one piece of hand baggage weighing up to 10kg. Tickets are available for purchase from the website (flydubai.com), call centre (04 301 0800) and travel agents from today.
flydubai now flies to seven destinations, the others being Beirut-Lebanon, Amman-Jordan, Damascus and Aleppo-Syria, Alexandria-Egypt and Djibouti-Africa, with well in excess of 100,000 passengers carried in just four months of operations.
The flydubai model is simple, with customers paying only for the services they want to receive. The ticket price includes all taxes and one piece of hand baggage, weighing up to 10 kg, per passenger.
Passengers have the option to purchase checked-in baggage in advance at just AED 40 for the first piece and AED 100 for the second, weighing up to 32 kg, subject to availability. Checked baggage at the airport is also strictly subject to availability and passengers are advised to book online early to secure the space, as only pre-purchased baggage can be guaranteed.
A nominal payment of AED 5 allows customers to select their seat and just AED 50 secures the extra legroom positions. Bookings can be changed for a small fee, plus any difference in the fare, and food and drink can be purchased on board.
flydubai operates from a modernised and enhanced Terminal 2 on the north side of Dubai International Airport.
