Flydubai to start new passenger services from DWC

Dubai carrier flydubai has announced that it will begin new passenger flights from the Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai World Central from October 25.

Flydubai will begin services to destinations including Amman, Beirut, Chittagong, Doha, Kathmandu, Kuwait and Muscat from DWC. Flights to these destinations will continue to be available from Dubai International Airport as well, the airline said.

The budget carrier has also chalked out plans to expand its operations gradually within DWC over the next few years.

“The start of our new operations at DWC provides further opportunities for growth for flydubai as we take delivery of more than 100 new Boeing aircraft by 2023,” said flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith.

“We see this as the first step to increase opportunities for travel across Dubai. With the delivery of eight new aircraft each year for the next few years and as we prepare for the first delivery of the new model Boeing 737 MAX we remain focused on supporting travel, trade and tourism by enhancing connectivity from Dubai’s two airports.”

Al Maktoum International Airport was opened in 2013 to ease the capacity constraints in Dubai International Airport. Air traffic has been slow to pick up at the new terminal, but a massive $32bn expansion, approved last year, could prompt more carriers to shift their operations there.

Recently Emirates airline’s president Tim Clark said that the carrier will be able to add nearly 100 more destinations to its network upon its move to DWC. The flagship carrier is aiming to shift to the airport once the expansion is finished between 2022 and 2025.

Clark said that the move to Al Maktoum International airport will also help Emirates to grow it fleet, which currently numbers 230 aircraft.