Flydubai to up frequencies to Colombo in 2011

By Sunimalee Dias reporting from Beirut

Flydubai, the newest low cost carrier out of the Middle East, on Monday launched its innovative interior and high definition in-flight entertainment system on Boeing 737-800 from Dubai to Beirut, recreating a new look at low cost aviation from the Middle East.

The airline is scheduled to add these new features to its flights in and out of Colombo as well next year, which will be part of the several other routes set to enjoy the significant aspects of the airline. Flydubai commenced operations into Colombo on 24 June this year.

Flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Gaith addressing the media in the Lebanese capital Beirut said that this low cost carrier would be the first airline to offer the new Boeing interior and flight entertainment offered by Lumexis.

Flydubai is an airline owned by the Dubai Government and the first low cost airline in the country, which commenced operations in June 2009.

The airline took off on its first flight from Dubai to Beirut 18 months back and has expanded its fleet to a total of 13 aircraft by taking delivery of a quartet of new Boeing 737-800 Next Generations in a number of weeks.

The four new aircraft additions come complete with Flydubai’s revolutionary ‘Fibre to the Screen’ (FTTS) In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) system from Lumexis. This fibre optic based system is lighter and thinner than previous models, enabling it to fit comfortably into the airline’s special Recaro seats.

This reduction in weight allows flydubai to offer its customers the best in-flight entertainment in the market, while significantly reducing the associated costs, meaning flydubai can keep its ticket prices low.

In line with flydubai’s culture of only charging travellers for the services they use, the new IFE will be available as an optional extra in the way that baggage and meals are. Passengers travelling on these new flydubai aircraft will have the ability to choose what they want to watch depending on their preference and how much they want to spend.

Al Gaith observed that by the end of next year, 60% of the airline’s aircraft would be equipped with this new system on longer routes of about four hours’ duration.

The growth of the airline is expected to reach that of its counterparts in Europe. However, flydubai expressed the need to have more opening of skies and routes, noting that the skies of the Middle East were not as flexible as in Europe and the US.

The narrow body aircraft in the new airplanes offers customers the ability to relive the magical experience of flying by adding lighting features that will create a wider space within the aircraft and keep it in line with daylight outside of the aircraft on the new Boeing Sky Interior.

“The new LED allows changes to light from white and blue to orange, according to the appropriate day time,” Al Gaith said.

The spacious new interior aims to improve passenger comfort onboard the new flydubai planes and has subtle mood lighting to simulate night time, day time and sunrise/sunset, as well as redesigned overhead bins to give more cabin space and increased storage.

Flydubai currently has 12 aircrafts in operation, having ordered 50 737-800NG aircraft from Boeing at the Farnborough Air Show in July 2008.

One of the most striking features of flydubai’s aircrafts are its winglets that have inclined wing tips to reduce drag and provide extra lift adding an extra 1.4 m to the wingspan, and are aerodynamically designed to save up to 4% of the total fuel burn. It is expected to save flydubai between 75, 000 – 125,000 gallons of fuel per aircraft per year, ensuring energy expense is saved and extending the engine life and reducing maintenance costs.