Dubai’s first low-cost airline awarded operator’s certificate from GCAA
Dubai, U.A.E.: A new era for budget air travel within the region took a big step closer to realisation today when flydubai, Dubai’s first low-cost airline, received its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
The award comes just days after the company unveiled the first of its Boeing 737-800s and less than two weeks before its June 1st maiden passenger flight to Beirut.
“The award of the operator’s certificate is the green light for flydubai to start its commercial operations,” said Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai. “A little more than twelve months ago, the flydubai venture was just a dream, with even the company’s name yet to be coined. With the licence now granted, the airline has become a reality and it is thanks to the incredible effort from everyone involved that has resulted in the concept getting off the ground.”
flydubai’s Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) was issued only after it had achieved completion of a strict set of requirements laid down by The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Regulatory body responsible for ensuring safety and standards within the airline industry. Complying with the GCAA’s requirements involved an exacting and rigorous process designed to ensure that only the highest levels of safety are maintained.
“flydubai’s operator’s certificate was obtained after a complete set of manuals, instructions and procedures was approved by the GCAA,” revealed Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the GCAA. “The GCAA is staffed with industry professionals who have an extensive history of assessment and evaluation and the manuals that flydubai submitted contain instructions, training programs and guidance to cover safety issues, as well as the function of flight attendants, maintenance personnel, pilots and management.
“As you would expect, there is a very rigid requirement of checks and balances to ensure strict compliance with regulations.
“Everything that flydubai has submitted has been of the very highest quality and we are delighted to award them their operator’s licence.”
flydubai will ultimately operate 50 Boeing 737-800s, with each one carrying 189 passengers. This Next Generation aircraft is in service across the world and has proved to be one of the safest in use today. flydubai’s version of the airliner has had state-of-the-art avionics, radar and navigation instruments installed, requiring a comprehensive training syllabus, for crew members.
In order to gain the licence flydubai’s pilots were required to demonstrate proficiency in a B737-800 simulator, with many hours having to be spent in training. The program culminates in a ‘Check Ride,’ where pilots must conduct all normal and emergency procedures at an expert level.
flydubai’s flight attendants also use simulators as an important aid in their education and they utilise this platform to demonstrate both routine and hazard combating operations. In addition to cabin crew having to be well versed in all these procedures, non-flying personnel, such as managers, also have to be able to show a high degree of safety and security acumen.
“flydubai has been assessed as meeting all the necessary requirements for exemplary operations and we are now looking forward to our inaugural passenger flight, which takes off for Beirut on June 1st,” said Ghaith. “This is an incredibly exciting time for everyone involved in Dubai’s first ever low-cost airline and we look forward to adding to our routes as we expand our service.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone at flydubai for bringing these plans to fruition and to thank them for all their hard work and dedication, which has led us to this defining moment – clearance for our commercial schedule to begin,” he added.
flydubai is aiming to capitalise on a continued desire for travel during straitened economic times with a simple model. The airline’s travellers pay for the services they want, with ticket prices inclusive of all taxes and a generous hand baggage allowance of 10kg. Customers are able to select other optional services at an additional charge. flydubai will operate from an enhanced and modernised Terminal 2 on the north side of Dubai International Airport.
