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Discuss this article (2 Comments)No rift between Dubai Airports and Jazeera - CEO
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Thursday, 11 June 2009
zoomSTRONG TIES: Jazeera Airways has shifted its secondary operation to Bahrain International Airport.
The chief executive of Dubai Airports has dismissed suggestions that budget carrier Jazeera Airways dropped Dubai International as its second hub after becoming dissatisfied with the operation.
Paul Griffiths told Arabian Business on Thursday that the relationship between the Kuwaiti airline and Dubai Airports, which operates the emirate’s hub, was “very strong”.
He added: “I am not aware of any issues about the level of service they have received. I rather think this may be more to do with issues over traffic rights and also the launch of flydubai.”
Reports in Bahrain suggested the airline wanted to adopt another airport as its second hub after it failed to develop the necessary facilities and infrastructure in Dubai. Steven Greenway, Jazeera Airways’ COO was reported by Gulf Daily News as saying, “"We never really got around to placing our crew in Dubai and there were other difficulties."
The airline has since shifted its secondary operation to Bahrain International Airport, but will still fly between Kuwait and Dubai.
Griffiths said Jazeera Airways’ failed bid to extend its traffic rights and operate more services from Dubai International was a factor behind the relocation.
“I know they [Jazeera] are maintaining a very significant number of direct services between Kuwait and Dubai and we are glad we are not losing them completely, but any airline has a right to decide which airport it operates to,” he said.
“We are very pleased we are still growing our traffic base. Traffic was up 7.1 percent in May, so overall while I am sorry to lose them this is no indication of people saying Dubai is not a good place to fly, quite the contrary.
The airport chief added: “We’re in a fortunate position where we have been able to invest proactively in capacity, so there isn’t a shortage of capacity here and we operate a very liberal, open skies policy whereby we’ll take any airline that wants to fly here and attempt to allocate the best slots for them.
“We are continuing to grow our traffic, welcome new airlines and extend the number of routes and flights operated from here and we don’t have a lack of capacity or interest that’s for sure.”
READERS' COMMENTS
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I don't agree with you Mr. Paul
Posted by The Don, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Sunday 14 June 2009 at 09:44 UAE time
No there is a rift between the airline and Dubai Airport. It is a bizarre move for an airline to cancel direct services from a liberal air -transport system (that is Dubai Airport) for no other reason except they are not getting what they believe is fair for them to make profit in such marginally profitable business.
Dubai Airport needs more airlines operating out of it to ensure sustainable growth that will fund capacity expansion directly.
Traffic rights is no issue especially, for example, DXB and BEY both adopts open skies policies.
Posted by The Don, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Sunday 14 June 2009 at 09:44 UAE time
No there is a rift between the airline and Dubai Airport. It is a bizarre move for an airline to cancel direct services from a liberal air -transport system (that is Dubai Airport) for no other reason except they are not getting what they believe is fair for them to make profit in such marginally profitable business.
Dubai Airport needs more airlines operating out of it to ensure sustainable growth that will fund capacity expansion directly.
Traffic rights is no issue especially, for example, DXB and BEY both adopts open skies policies.
Emirates Monopoly
Posted by Karim Mahdouk, Dubai, UAE on Friday 12 June 2009 at 10:26 UAE time
So if there is no rift, why did Jazeera had to suddenly cancel its FULL direct flights between Dubai and Beirut one month before the launch of Fly Dubai even after they had sold tickets to customers??
Were they pushed out of the market by Emirates airlines that is extending its monopoly to low cost flying? Will it be really be low cost?
Next thing you will hear is how Fly Dubai is the best low cost airline in the middle east? I have been always tought that you can only be the best when you compete fairly against others, maybe Emirates companies did not learn that yet... whats worse is that they are really proud of these claims and they would be furious if anyone treats them like they treat their competition!!!
Posted by Karim Mahdouk, Dubai, UAE on Friday 12 June 2009 at 10:26 UAE time
So if there is no rift, why did Jazeera had to suddenly cancel its FULL direct flights between Dubai and Beirut one month before the launch of Fly Dubai even after they had sold tickets to customers??
Were they pushed out of the market by Emirates airlines that is extending its monopoly to low cost flying? Will it be really be low cost?
Next thing you will hear is how Fly Dubai is the best low cost airline in the middle east? I have been always tought that you can only be the best when you compete fairly against others, maybe Emirates companies did not learn that yet... whats worse is that they are really proud of these claims and they would be furious if anyone treats them like they treat their competition!!!
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