Budget carrier flydubai revealed on Monday it will charge passengers separately for checking in baggage when the airline launches this summer.
Additional costs will also be added for seat selection and food and drink. Checked-in baggage weighing up to 32kgs will be added to the bill, but hand luggage that falls below the 10kgs allowance will be included in the ticket price.
The airline is expected to launch flights to undisclosed destinations across the Middle East, north and east Africa, southeast Europe and Indian Subcontinent in mid-2009.
Passengers will be able to book flights and check-in via www.flydubai.com in the coming months. The airline will issue boarding passes once the booking has been paid for, making e-tickets and paper tickets redundant.
Travellers will also be able to make bookings through flydubai call centres and the airline’s travel partners.
flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said the new airline will make travel less complex and stressful, as well as cheaper.
“As a true low cost airline, we have looked very hard at ways to make our operations more efficient,” he said. “If we find a cost that can be eliminated, we will – with the savings passed onto our customers.
“We are very confident flydubai will bring a fresh approach to the budget airline sector and change the way people travel. By keeping things simple we will be able to provide an easier and more affordable travel experience. This will mean more people can get together with family and friends more often.”
flydubai will operate from Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport. Its fleet of Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft will have 189 economy seats for passengers flying to destinations within 4.5 hours flying time of Dubai.
An announcement on routes and prices will be made shortly.
In recent weeks, the airline has appointed more than 60 captains, 18 first officers and 80 cabin crew after receiving some 11,500 applicants from across the globe.
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