Flydubai Set For Mumbai Launch

Low-cost-turned-premium carrier flydubai marks one of the most significant route launches in its five-year history this evening when it starts five-times weekly flights to Mumbai.

Tonight’s inaugural flight is scheduled to depart Terminal 2 at 2240 and arrive in Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 0300 local time.

Business class return fares start from Dhs2,500 and round trip economy fares are priced from Dhs925.

While flydubai won’t be able to compete with Emirates’ six-a-day schedules to Mumbai, its arrival provides new competition and executives with a more affordable premium travel option. Emirates’ return business fares are currently priced AED4,295.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, said it is committed to serving the market “with affordable and reliable travel options.”

The airline is also increasing the frequency of its flights to Delhi to five weekly. In total, flydubai will now serve seven destinations in India with 25 flights a week.

Sudhir Sreedharan, SVP Commercial (GCC, Subcontinent, Africa) for flydubai, said its 12-seat business class is now available on flights to Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi and Trivandrum.

The rapidly growing airline operates over 1,100 flights per week to 76 destinations across 37 countries, operating a fleet of 38 B737-800s. Last week it started flights to Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.