flydubai Targets Bratislava Expansion

Initially launching as a twice-weekly service, a third service will be introduced in January.

The number of flights flydubai operates between Dubai and Bratislava could be doubled to four a week by next summer.

During a welcome ceremony at Bratislava Stefanik Airport, Jeyhun Efendi, SVP Commercial Operations for the UAE, Middle East, Europe and CIS, said the capacity increase could be introduced for the high season. Initially launching as a twice-weekly service, a third service will be introduced in January.

“It gives us the option to carry more tourists onward to destinations such as the Maldives, Nepal and Goa,” he said.

The Dubai carrier is actively targeting Europe this month with Prague and Sofia also joining its network along with Zagreb and Sarajevo.

As well as raising competition in those cities, flydubai’s arrival in Slovakia looks set to impact the neighbouring Austrian market as it will be shuttling passengers on buses from Vienna.

Operating its trademark B737-800s, flydubai has become the first carrier to operate flights between Dubai and Slovakia.

CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said: “We are very confident in the growth in the business we are in. In Europe we are now up to 21 points and we want to add more flights.”

In a novel move, complimentary meals for economy passengers are being trialled until February, and it will evaluate whether to absorb the cost in tickets or revert to charging under the conventional low-cost model. Passengers flying in the 12-seat business class receive free food and drink.

The airline has 75 B737MAX aircraft on order along with 11 more B737-800s.