flydubai’s Ghaith Al Ghaith named ‘Aviation CEO of the Year’
Coveted honour reflects flydubai CEO’s vision in growing low-cost airline
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 — Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, Dubai’s pioneering low cost airline, was named Aviation CEO of the Year at last night’s CEO Middle East Awards 2011.
Recognising and rewarding outstanding success, innovation and ethics across Middle Eastern business, the CEO Middle East Awards is one of the most prestigious in the region. Tribute was paid to Ghaith Al Ghaith for his innovative business excellence and overall achievement that has seen him take flydubai’s vision on paper and turn it into a success story in just two-and-a-half years.
Under his leadership, flydubai has become the fastest growing start-up airline in the world ever, amassing a route network of 46 destinations and a fleet of 20 aircraft since June 2009. It also has one of the industry’s best on time performance records with both departures and arrivals in the 85% range.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, said: “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of the whole team at flydubai in recognition of their commitment and achievements over the past three years. The airline would not be what it is today without the talented and dedicated staff we have and I would not be receiving this award without flydubai being as successful as it is.”
Following a 23-year career at Emirates Airline, which saw Al Ghaith rise to the role of Executive Vice-President Commercial Operations Worldwide, he was handpicked by the Government of Dubai in 2008 to head up flydubai – Dubai’s first and only low cost airline. Over the past 12 months, he has led flydubai to a number of accolades, including being named Low Cost Airline of the Year at this year’s Business Traveller Middle East Awards.
Al Ghaith’s personal efforts have also been recognised in the public arena; not only is this the second time he has won this award in the past three years, he also took ninth place in the Aviation Business Power List 2011, which said: “Amongst [Al Ghaith’s] achievements was the recent introduction of in-flight entertainment systems for passengers, a rarity for low-cost carriers, especially in the Middle East region.”
The CEO has led from the front every day, adopting pioneering technologies and products to enhance the passenger experience, while also keeping costs low. Thanks to flydubai’s affordable and convenient flights, more people in the Middle East, Africa, Subcontinent, Russia, CIS and Europe can now fly to more places more often.
