FlyDubai orders 54 Boeing planes for $4bln Jul 14, 2008

FARNBOROUGH, England (AFP) — New low-cost airline FlyDubai has ordered 54 Boeing single-aisle 737 passenger jets in deals worth a total of 4.0 billion dollars (2.52 billion euros), it announced at the Farnborough Airshow on Monday.

FlyDubai said on the first day of the key industry event that it had made a firm order for 50 of Boeing’s so-called next-generation 737-800 fuel-efficient passenger jets for 3.74 billion dollars at list price.

FlyDubai had also agreed to lease four Boeing 737-800s from Babcock and Brown Aircraft Management.

“I am delighted to sign this announcement for 54 next-generation Boeing 737-800s on behalf of FlyDubai,” the group’s chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum said in a statement.

The mid-range 737-800 can transport up to 189 passengers and FlyDubai will take delivery of its planes between 2009 and 2015.

Dubai, part of the United Arab Emirates, formed FlyDubai in March.

“This (Boeing) announcement is a major milestone in the development of FlyDubai,” the airline’s chief executive Ghaith al Ghaith said on Monday.

“Now that we have our aircraft on order, we can move on to the next stage of our development and look forward with anticipation to the start of our scheduled flights in the middle of next year.”

For oil-producing Gulf states, such as the United Arab Emirates, rocketing fuel prices are presenting unexpected revenues with which to snap up new aircraft.

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, has said it is likely to announce orders of between 50 and 100 aircraft at Farnborough.

“Our relationship with the UAE is something we truly value and have worked to strengthen over time,” Boeing chairman and chief executive Jim McNerney said on Monday.

Canadian planemaker Bombardier stole the limelight ahead of this year’s Farnborough show by announcing Sunday that it planned to launch its eco-friendly CSeries single-aisle passenger jet in 2013 — a plane it promised would “deliver dramatic energy savings.”

The week-long Farnborough Airshow is a traditional battle ground for planemakers, especially Boeing and Airbus, for securing orders of new aircraft.

The biennial event was attracting the usual mix of industry executives and plane enthusiasts for deal-making and the witnessing of flypasts by civil and military jets.

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flydubai

flydubai is a start-up low-cost airline formed by the government of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.^[2] Their first flights are due to start in mid-2009. flydubai plans to offer competitive ticket prices, along with flexible hotel, car rental, insurance, and visa services to Dubai. flydubai will be launched with the help of Emirates Airlines, although it will not be a part of the airline.

On July 14, 2008, flydubai signed a USD 4 billion firm order at the Farnborough Air Show with Boeing for 50 Boeing 737-800‘s, with the option to change the order to longer range Boeing 737-900ER‘s later on.^[1] A leasing agreement was also signed with Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management for four more Boeing 737-800s for delivery in 2009.^[1]

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FlyDubai to launch in 2009

Dubai’s new low-cost airline will be called FlyDubai, with the first flights due to take off in mid-2009.

The airline is being assisted by Emirates during its set-up period, but once launched, its operations will be “entirely separate from Emirates Airline and Group”. FlyDubai will initially focus on regional flights within the Gulf region and surrounding countries, with the airline’s brand identity and livery due to be unveiled in the coming months.

Commenting on the carrier’s moniker, chairman HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said: “FlyDubai is a simple, yet powerful, call to action. It makes an immediate link to our core business, which is providing no-frills flights to bring people to and from Dubai. The name also carries a strong association with the city of Dubai, itself a brand synonymous with excellence, reliability and an international, pro-business approach.”

The flydubai.com website is currently under construction, so keep checking businesstraveller.com for the latest updates

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Dubai’s low cost airline named FlyDubai

The brand identity and livery for FlyDubai will be unveiled in the coming months.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has approved the name FlyDubai from a shortlist presented by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman of the new low-cost airline.

Sheikh Ahmed said

FlyDubai.

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