FlyDubai European Routes

[nsiotto]

I have heard rumorst that FlyDubai (the low cost airline) after expanding rapidly in Russian countries and in East Europe, in 2016 is planning to expand in West Europe, including Orio Al Serio and Rome (Ciampino?).

Anyone could confirm even only partially such rumors?

[EK77WNCL]

Shouldn't see why it wouldn't be possible, would be a long flight and the 738 could be a bit of a dog to get out of DXB on a hot, calm summer day on a 7 hour flight but... Yeah the 738 shouldn't have "too many" problems doing it

Would be an interesting departure though, probably the best part of a 10,000ft takeoff run especially if they derated it

[Heathrow Harry]

My mate in Dubai says they're not going to cut into the main airline operation - probably build up regional flights to take on Turkish but you won't see them anywhere EK flies in Europe right now

Why cut your own throat?

[owenc]

The FlyDubai looks like a great airline but unfortunately I doubt a 737-800 has the range to fly from Dubai to Western Europe.

Maybe Rome/Austria at a push.

[matkat]

Well when I was at flyglobespan we regularly flew an 800 over the pond so see no reason why not might be a bit tricky at +50 mind.

[EK77WNCL]

Yeah Flydubai can do Bergamo, Ciampino, Treviso etc for low cost O&D while Emirates gets the higher paying passengers from the main airports

[owenc]

Well when I was at flyglobespan we regularly flew an 800 over the pond so see no reason why not might be a bit tricky at +50 mind.

Boston is about 1,000 miles closer to me than Dubai.

Dubai is about the distance of Florida. Would you fly a 737-800 there?

[EK77WNCL]

BFS-MCO = 4065mi
BGY-DXB = 2883mi

Hmmmmmm... :/

737 800's (even in 189 seat charter config.) fly much longer routes than BGY-DXB every day

[High Energy]

Don't forget that flydubai does prefer NOT to nightstop it's crew. So it has to be possible as a there-and-back. The current Eastern European routes are pushing the FTL as it is. And that's with a double crew! Prague is doing well so who knows what that signals to management... They frequency is already being raised.

flydubai is short of crew and aircraft. I'm guessing we'll see big changes when the expansion goes into overdrive from May16 onwards. Not to mention the MAX8 introduction in Q3 2017.

[LGWAlan]

Norwegian already offer Scandinavia to DXB on guess what 737-800. Recently as yesterday announced HEL-DXB daily.

Block time according to Amadeus is 6h55. Great circle has distance of 2819 miles.

Comapre it with TOS-LPA - block time 7h00 and a great circle of 3191 miles. Also operated on 738 with Y186 config.
As an aside TOS-LPA is also operated by TCX Scandinavia on A321

Edit- obviously doesn't take into account crew FTL etc

[striker26]

The 737 MAX can fly approx. 500 nm more than the 800's (just for future's sake), to give you guys a perspective, Westjet just started ETOPS operations from eastern Canada to Ireland and UK via the 737, another would be Caribbean Airlines flying Toronto to Port of Spain in about 6hrs, full capacity.

Should be no problem for FZ to fly to Europe but i think they will work closely with EK as to which cities they exploit :)

[High Energy]

There are a few variables that will determine the future for flydubai. They will not kanabalize EK's routes if the introduction of flydubai starts hurting EK on a route. They will try and serve 'underserved and secondary' markets combined with a few big markets where there is obviously enough for multiple carriers.

flydubai already operates to 40+ destinations together with EK. Many European countries are looking to block/slow down the M.E. carriers uprising so they may block flydubai coming on their turf too. So they could be looking east at deeper into Russia and maybe China and Thailand etc. West bound Africa looks very promising too.

It all depends on billateral rights and goverments. Maybe even a base outside of DXB as a stepping stone to places further away.

[owenc]

BFS-MCO = 4065mi
BGY-DXB = 2883mi

Hmmmmmm... :/

737 800's (even in 189 seat charter config.) fly much longer routes than BGY-DXB every day

The thread is about routes in WESTERN Europe.

[owenc]

The 737 MAX can fly approx. 500 nm more than the 800's (just for future's sake), to give you guys a perspective, Westjet just started ETOPS operations from eastern Canada to Ireland and UK via the 737, another would be Caribbean Airlines flying Toronto to Port of Spain in about 6hrs, full capacity.

Should be no problem for FZ to fly to Europe but i think they will work closely with EK as to which cities they exploit :)

St Johns is only 2,000 miles away. It's closer than South Greece so your reply doesn't really bare any merit when it compares to using a 737 on a route from Dubai to UK/Ireland/France.

[EK77WNCL]

Well yes being pedantic Italy isn't in western Europe, but routes to Italy are the ones mentioned in the opening post, I was merely pointing out that when you said Dubai was about the distance of Florida (from where you are), in terms of the routes Dubai is well within the range of the 737 800. The Iberian peninsula and the British Isles are the only places Flydubai can't serve without having to block seats. Although anything further than the Balearics and Alicante might be a bit of a push in terms of Iberia

I wish Flydubai luck and I hope to see them expand lots more! The 737 800MAX could feasibly give airports like Aberdeen, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Bristol, Exeter and the like a chance for a middle east service, although I do expect to see one of the ME3 at BRS/LBA etc. Some time in the not too distant future