ID :
69987
Sun, 07/12/2009 - 16:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/69987
The shortlink copeid
flydubai postpones flights to India 'due to operational reasons'
Dubai, July 12, 2009 (WAM) - Dubai’s low cost carrier FlyDubai, which was scheduled to commence its India operation on July 13 decided to delay its foray "due to operational reasons.“
flydubai had planned to begin operations to India with flights to Lucknow on July 13, Coimbatore on July 14 and Chandigarh on July 23, however, due to operational issues, we have had to delay these flights,” Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai said in a report in "Gulf News." "We understand that this is very inconvenient for the passengers who have booked flights with us to India and we apologise for the disruption and disappointment caused.
“All passengers who have booked flights to India will be contacted within the next few days and will be given a full refund, plus a voucher for a free return flight to India or anywhere on the flydubai network, which will be valid for travel until the end of November 2009.
“India remains an important market for us and we will make an announcement in the very near future on when our flights to the region will begin,” he said.
The delay comes less than a week after Indian press reported that flydubai was refused permission for night landings at Chandigarh airport in Punjab, one of three Indian destinations flydubai announced late last month.
Times of India reported the Indian Air Force, which controls Chandigarh airport, had rejected an appeal by the airline to wave restrictions on civilian planes landing at night. The airline currently flies to Beirut, Amman, Damascus and Alexandria, and recently added Aleppo, Syria to its list of destinations.
Recently the airline, finalised a $320 million (Dh1.2 billion) sale and lease agreement with GE Capital Aviation Services (Gecas) to finance four aircraft by the end of this year. With the arrival of the new aircraft flydubai’s fleet size is expected to reach six by the end of 2009.
The company had announced that it has plans to operate to at least 14 destinations by the year's end.
flydubai had planned to begin operations to India with flights to Lucknow on July 13, Coimbatore on July 14 and Chandigarh on July 23, however, due to operational issues, we have had to delay these flights,” Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai said in a report in "Gulf News." "We understand that this is very inconvenient for the passengers who have booked flights with us to India and we apologise for the disruption and disappointment caused.
“All passengers who have booked flights to India will be contacted within the next few days and will be given a full refund, plus a voucher for a free return flight to India or anywhere on the flydubai network, which will be valid for travel until the end of November 2009.
“India remains an important market for us and we will make an announcement in the very near future on when our flights to the region will begin,” he said.
The delay comes less than a week after Indian press reported that flydubai was refused permission for night landings at Chandigarh airport in Punjab, one of three Indian destinations flydubai announced late last month.
Times of India reported the Indian Air Force, which controls Chandigarh airport, had rejected an appeal by the airline to wave restrictions on civilian planes landing at night. The airline currently flies to Beirut, Amman, Damascus and Alexandria, and recently added Aleppo, Syria to its list of destinations.
Recently the airline, finalised a $320 million (Dh1.2 billion) sale and lease agreement with GE Capital Aviation Services (Gecas) to finance four aircraft by the end of this year. With the arrival of the new aircraft flydubai’s fleet size is expected to reach six by the end of 2009.
The company had announced that it has plans to operate to at least 14 destinations by the year's end.
