The Arabian Travel Market kicked off today in Dubai, UAE. With the festivities underway, flydubai wasted no time launching its new product.
‘Exceeding expectations’
The Business Suite has been designed by flydubai and its partners exclusively for narrowbody airliners. Six of the carrier's Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will see new 10 suites onboard before the end of the year. The operator looks to take on widebody competition with direct aisle access via its comfy new premium business class offering.
The first cabin fit is expected to be completed in November and the company is excited about this new chapter in its short history.
flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said the following about the new seat in a statement:
“flydubai is committed to exceeding expectations. Our business and product offerings have evolved from the initial no-frills model over the past 14 years to cater to the ever-growing needs of our customers and the markets we operate to,”
“We have come a long way since the introduction of our first Business Class offering in 2013, which has served us well. Today, we are proud to unveil a new premium product which rivals the Business Class experience offered by many airlines on wide-body aircraft. We will continue to invest in innovation to enhance the customer experience across our growing fleet.”
flydubai VP of inflight product Daniel Kerrison added that the new business suite will take comfort to another level. He notes features such:
- Increased height of the back-shell
- A living suite door
- Direct aisle access for every passenger
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More comfort and privacy
flydubai collaborated with Safran Seats and JPA Design over the course of three years to develop the seat. As a result, the project seeks to offer the comfort and space of a widebody on a narrowbody. This move is exemplified by "privacy never before seen on Boeing 737s.”
Additional features, including discreet stowage spaces and ambient lighting, will be found with the seat. Moreover, passengers will be able to connect their personal headphones to 17-inch 4K touchscreen screens to enjoy the inflight entertainment (IFE).
The onboard dining will consist of a choice of meals, snacks, and hot and cold drinks. On 90+ minute flights, there will be hot meals available.
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Adapting well
Since commencing operations in 2019, flydubai has consistently evolved its premium product. It launched its first business class in 2013 before introducing lie-flat seats in 2017. It also introduced a new recliner business seat in 2021.
Flydubai holds 30 737-800s, 45 737 MAXs, and three 737 MAX 9s. It is also expecting another 88 737 MAX 8s and 50 737 MAX 10s, according to ch-aviation.com. The scaling up of its premium offering is edging it closer to the quality expected from its compatriots Etihad and Emirates.
Moreover, the ramp-up is also affirming the airline’s position as a hybrid outfit like JetBlue rather than a pure low-cost airline. The Business Suite is a natural progression for the airline in its mission to provide high-quality services at a reasonable price from its Dubai base.
What are your thoughts about flydubai’s new offering? What do you make of the overall plans? Let us know what you think in the comment section.
Source: ch-aviation.com