NEWS

Al Maktoum Move Hinges On Open Skies – Jazeera

Kuwaiti airline wants unrestricted flights from Dubai’s new hub, its chief executive reveals.

Budget carrier Jazeera Airways could become one of the first passenger airlines to operate from Dubai’s new airport Al Maktoum International – but only if it secures an open skies agreement.

Al Maktoum is scheduled to commence cargo operations in June during phase one of the airport’s opening. Details for when the first passenger flight will take off have not been announced, although hub operator Dubai Airports is in talks with airlines currently flying from Dubai International Airport about making the switch.

Kuwaiti airline Jazeera Airways is one of them, but Pichler’s comments to commerce-magazine.com reveal the airline will only entertain the idea if certain conditions are met.

“When they give us unrestricted air traffic rights from Al Maktoum we are in,” Pichler said. “That was our proposal [when we spoke] and it still is.”

Pichler declined to comment on whether Dubai Airports and the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) could guarantee unrestricted flights from Al Maktoum airport.

Jazeera dropped Dubai as its second hub last June amid rumours that the airline had been hit with several restrictions. It was claimed that Dubai government introduced various measures to create less competition for its start-up low-cost carrier, flydubai.

“We would prefer to continue to offer non-stop services to many destinations from Dubai but unfortunately regulatory changes in the UAE have meant that it is no longer economical for us to do so,” a Jazeera spokesman told local media at the time. Dubai’s GCAA immediately disputed the comments.

Even if an agreement on open skies with Dubai Airports was reached, it would not guarantee unrestricted flights in the Middle East as limits to where airlines can travel still exist, according to Pichler.

“If you look around on the map between the GCC there is open skies, but there are also a lot of restrictions in the Middle East and non-GCC countries,” he said.

But he added that airlines operating in the region would eventually be able to fly freely without restrictions.

“Historically, all the markets were restricted and then they open up when governments understand deregulation of air travel brings more benefits in terms of GDP growth than the benefit of protecting the national carrier. When this has sunk in markets will open up,” he said.