FlyDubai gets nod to operate in India

New Delhi: The civil aviation ministry has permitted the Dubai government-owned low-cost carrier FlyDubai to operate three weekly flights between its West Asian hub and Lucknow, a ministry official said.
The clearance comes nearly nine months after FlyDubai was scheduled to begin its India operations.
The airline had sought flights to Chandigarh and Coimbatore as well.
Even though the belated clearance falls short of FlyDubai’s expectations, aviation analysts said its entry will make the competition fiercer for Indian carriers operating on the crowded route.
FlyDubai currently has a fleet of seven aircraft, and has ordered 45 more Boeing 737-800 NG planes.
With 189 all-economy seats, its B737 aircraft can fly 3,000km from Dubai—or just under four hours. The Nepalese capital of Kathmandu is the furthest it reaches currently, but the airline is keen to expand in India.
“All they can do is start three flights to Lucknow, that’s the maximum they were allowed,” a civil aviation ministry official said on condition of anonymity.
That is because Dubai’s first home-grown carrier, Emirates, is already utilizing most of the 54,000-odd weekly seats agreed upon between India and Dubai. Emirates flies 185 weekly services to 10 Indian cities.
FlyDubai will have to adjust the seats with Emirates if it wants to fly to other Indian cities, the official said.
11/04/10 Tarun Shukla/Live Mint

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Categories: Foreign Apr 2010, Low Cost General Apr 2010, New Apr 2010