flydubai reaches Kuwait
GCC destination number four
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 — Just two days after launching its twelfth destination, Muscat in Oman, flydubai, Dubai’s first low cost airline, took off on its inaugural flight to Kuwait, its fourth GCC destination and thirteenth overall.
A VIP delegation from Kuwait, headed by the Director General and Acting President of Civil Aviation, Eng. Bader Bou Taiban, welcomed the flight, which included His Excellency Jamal Al Hai, Member of the National Federal Council of the UAE and SVP Strategy and Development at Dubai Airports and flydubai’s Chief Executive Ghaith Al Ghaith among the passengers.
Eng. Adel Al Awadi, Deputy Director General for Kuwait International Airport Affairs, who was part of the delegation that welcomed the flight, said: “We are delighted to welcome flydubai to Kuwait. Increasing numbers of low cost flights between the State of Kuwait and the Emirates strengthens the ties between our two nations and increases the opportunities for business, trade and tourism for both.
“I expect traffic in both directions will be extremely healthy, particularly as flydubai represents a high quality low cost alternative."
H.E. Jamal Al Hai, SVP Strategy and Development at Dubai Airports and Member of the Federal National Council of the UAE said: “This new flight from flydubai is an important part of our efforts to boost trade and links between our two countries. It is another example of how the GCC countries work together for the benefit of all parties.
“Kuwait has fared well through the economic downtown – billions of dollars are being invested in Kuwait's infrastructure and the economy continues to grow with new investment, trade and industry.”
Al Ghaith said: “I would like to thank the authorities in Kuwait for their help in making this new route possible and for the wonderful welcome we have received today in Kuwait City.
“Our twice daily flights to Kuwait will open up a new low cost option to the increasing number of people wanting to travel between the two cities, making travel more affordable and accessible."
In 2009, economic development plans were presented for the first time, which pledged $140 billion in five years to help to diversify the Kuwait economy away from oil, attract more investment, and boost private sector participation in the economy.
The Kuwait service extends flydubai's existing routes to thirteen. The remainder are: Beirut-Lebanon, Amman-Jordan, Damascus and Aleppo-Syria, Alexandria-Egypt, Djibouti-Africa, Doha-Qatar, Khartoum–Sudan, Baku-Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Kathmandu-Nepal and Muscat-Oman.
The twice daily flights to Kuwait cost from just AED 200 one-way including taxes. FZ053 and FZ061 leave Dubai at 0705hrs and 1915hrs respectively, arriving in Kuwait City at 0755hrs and 2005hrs local time respectively. The return flights, FZ054 and FZ062 leave at 0840hrs and 2050hrs and arrive at 1120hrs and 2330 local time.
