Looks at twenty other destinations
Dubai’s state-owned low-cost airline, Flydubai, has commenced its India operations with thrice-weekly flights to-and-fro Lucknow. Its maiden flight from Dubai landed here early today.
It is looking at 20 other Indian destinations, including all the metro cities, subject to official approval.
“We decided on Lucknow as our first Indian destination as it has market potential and we felt there were less number of flights connecting the city,” Flydubai’s CEO, Ghaith Al Ghaith, said at a conference call in the presence of the United Arab Emirates’ ambassador to India, Mohamed Sultan Al Owais.
It will operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Dubai and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Lucknow. A one-way fare, including taxes and hand-luggage, is priced at Rs 6,300.
An estimated five million Indian expatriates live and work in the Gulf, with around a million in the UAE alone. Ghaith said 42 per cent of the workforce in the UAE comprised Indians.
Bilateral trade (non-oil) between India and the UAE is estimated at over $48 billion and growing rapidly.
Commenting on the aviation infrastructure in India, Ghaith noted India had done incredibly well in the last few years. “The infrastructure in India has improved. More airports are coming and better services are being provided. The country deserves to be in the league of China and Russia.”
Flydubai commenced operations in June 2009. It has eight aircraft and connects 17 international destinations. The company plans a fleet of 50 planes by 2016.
