du has strong presence at Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport with shop and payphones

To facilitate easier communication for passengers in transit at the new Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport, du, the UAE’s integrated telecom service provider, has announced the availability of a du shop in the arrivals section in addition to payphones at convenient locations throughout the airport. With du payphones, the calls will be charged by the second, which means paying only for actual talk time.

du offers 2G and 3G mobile coverage in Terminal 3 and the additional presence of du shop and payphones will further facilitate communication needs of customers.

Making the announcement, Farid Faraidooni, EVP Commercial, du, said: “Increasing customer convenience has always been our priority. By ensuring easy access to the du shop and kiosk, we are enabling customers to get connected as soon as they arrive. Our payphones will also enable them to keep in touch with family, friends and colleagues conveniently.”

du payphones can be used to make national, international or mobile voice calls. To use a du payphone, customers will need to purchase an AED 30 denomination prepaid card and insert it in the telephone. Prepaid cards are available at duty free shops and at the du shop located at the airport terminal.

The du payphones can also be used to call emergency numbers. There are separate speed dial keys for contacting the Police, ambulance services and information desk. Calls can also be made to access du directory services by dialing the speed dial ‘du Directory’ on the payphone.

900 exhibitors at Dubai Air Show: Ahmed Bin Saeed

Passenger traffic growth at Dubai International Airport are excellent despite the crisis which hit many airports around the world, according to Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports and President of Emirates Group."The first quarter saw Dubai Airports recording a 2.1% passenger traffic growth, followed by a 6.5% increase in April and 7.1% in May," said Sheikh Ahmed at a reception on the second day of the week-long Paris Air Show at Le Bourget.He forecasted a 4 to 5% increase in passenger traffic at Dubai Airport for the first half of this current month. "Three new carriers have been added to the airport’s portfolio which boast services to over 200 destinations around the world." In an exclusive statement to WAM, Sheikh Ahmed said the forthcoming edition of Dubai Air Show next November is set to bring together a record 900 exhibitors which he said will make a "big event".He said Dubai’s new airport, the Al-Maktoum International is due to open its first phase in the second half of 2010. It is said to be the largest airport in the world with a planned capacity for 160 million passengers per annum.
 

RTA Transition Towards Mass Transit Presented To The 58th UITP Congress

Roads & Transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji:H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), headed RTA delegation taking part in 58th International Union of Public Transport (UITP) Congress and the accompanying City Transport Exhibition held at the Austrian capital Vienna under the theme “Public Transport: Making the Right Mobility Choices. The Congress attracted participation from around 4000 exhibitors/participants hailing from 35 countries. RTA has a large stand to share with the participants and visitors its experiment in developing mass transit systems spanning metro, tram, marine transport, public transport buses, road projects, and modern traffic technologies.
In a press conference held yesterday attended by a considerable numbers of media representatives and executives of companies taking part in the Exhibition, H.E. Mattar Al Tayer said: “The sharp vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, enabled Dubai to thrive at a rate higher than any city in the region. It turned Dubai into a creative city with innovative investment projects spanning airports, ports, and rail & transport systems in addition to landmark property projects such The Palm islands, The World, and Burj Dubai; all of which boast a stunning & magnificent design. Over the last decade, Dubai made unprecedented development strides across the region as demonstrated in the complete overhaul of the infrastructure, building of modern roads across the city, constructing high rises, uplifting Dubai International Airport to world-class standards, and constructing free industrial zones in addition to the provision of communication, internet & media services.
Al Tayer added: “The huge progress made by Dubai was paralleled with an equal growth in the number of vehicles used; triggering traffic bottlenecks. RTA prepared legislations and developed integrated solutions for road systems as well as surface & marine transport network; which are safe to use, and in line with the economic development plans of the emirate of Dubai and the highest global standards. Implementation of this plan contributed to a host of achievements such as the drop in traffic mortality rates from 24 cases per 100,000 of population to 17 cases (26%), drop in the worth of time wasted as a result of traffic congestion from 5.9 billion dirham to 4 billion dirham (32%), an increase in the number of lanes crossing Dubai Creek from 19 to 48 lanes (153%), an increase in the number of lanes of key roads from 36 lanes to 66 lanes (83%), and improved traffic flow on major roads by 30%.
Al Tayer went further to say: “The main challenge facing RTA is the limited use of mass transit modes which is as low as 6%, whereas the share of public transport modes in advanced countries ranges from 40% to 80%. Therefore RTA worked out a comprehensive plan to upgrade mass transit sector with a view to pushing its share in person trips made up to 30% through extensive expansion of public transport systems. Projects undertaken to achieve this objective include Dubai Metro; which expands 75 km and comprises 47 stations, Sufouh Tram Project extending 14 km and covering 19 stations, beefing-up public transport bus fleet to 2100 by mid of 2010 covering a network of 3000 km long. The plan also envisages construction of 1000 air-conditioned bus shelters for public transport users offering them comfort to lure them toward the use of public buses. RTA also launched several initiatives to boost the transition towards public transport such as Sharekni and Awselni, in addition to introducing Journey Planner program (Wojhati), provision of maps showing route path at stations as well as internal & external bus display monitors, and re-routing bus lines to serve the major spots and provide feeder services to Dubai Metro Stations”.
In his speech Mattar Al Tayer spoke about RTA plan to upgrade marine transport mode and threw some light on Creek lines operation, the Coastal Line along Jumeirah Beach and the vital line linking with man-made island projects. “Marine transport network is set to expand from 20 km to more than 450 km to serve waterfront projects, and property islands which have a coastal line stretching more than 1700 km. RTA operated the Water Bus, improved abra services, and embarked on a trial run of natural gas-powered abras. Additionally, RTA is currently undertaking two vital marine projects; operation of about 20 ferries with a capacity to load 120 passengers each, and 10 Water Taxis with a capacity of 7 passengers each”. Al Tayer commented on the environment conservation through public transport by saying: “All the new public transport buses are fitted with Euro 4 environment-friendly technologies, and we kicked off the trial run of gas-powered abras as part of the drive to make marine transport modes, including the water taxi and Ferry Dubai, environment-friendly. Work is up and running in the trial run of hybrid taxis and introducing green building concepts in transport stations and buildings”.
Exhibition Tour
The Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of RTA H.E. Mattar Al Tayer made a tour of the exhibition accompanied with Roberto Cavalier Chairman of the International Union of Public Transport (UITP), Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, CEO of Marine Agency, Essa Al Dossari, CEO of Public Transport Agency, Abdul Aziz Malik CEO of Dubai Taxi Corporation, Naser Hamad Bu Shihab Director of Strategic Planning Dep’t, and Peyman Younes Parham Director of Marketing & Corporate Communication Dep’t.
During the tour of the specialized companies and factories participating in the exhibition accompanying the Congress, Al Tayer reviewed the latest technologies used in the driverless trains and trams, and checked the latest trends in constructing, manufacturing, operating and maintaining rail systems, and also reviewed the new generation of public buses fitted with environment-friendly engines. In one of the stands Al Tayer viewed a modern system, which is being introduced by Public Transport Agency on several buses enabling the Agency to track bus movements, measure driver efficiency and fix bus maintenance schedules, and the system is set to be generalized to all public buses by the mid of 2010. Al Tayer also viewed high-tech unified fare collections cards used for buses, trains, and marine transport modes as well as paid parking zones. At the sidelines of the tour, Al Tayer met with several key executives of companies operating in rail and transport system industry.

flydubai makes low cost travel to Dubai a reality

The Middle East welcomed a new era in budget travel when the first ever commercial flight of flydubai, Dubai’s first low cost airline, landed at the Rafic Hariri International Airport, Beirut, at 13:05 local time.The inaugural flight, which took off from Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 2 at 10:30hrs, signifies an opening of the skies for low cost travel between Lebanon and the UAE. The new service will benefit thousands of expatriates, tourists and business people who will now have a more accessible and affordable option to travel regularly.Welcoming the 189 passengers aboard flight number FZ-157 were Elie Marouni, Lebanon Minister of Tourism, Ghazi Aridi, Minister of Transport and Public Works and Rahman Hussain Al-Za’abi, UAE Ambassador to Lebanon.Dubai’s first low-cost airline chose Lebanon as its first destination because of the strong personal, business and trade relationships between the two countries, which makes the route one of the busiest in the region.Also travelling on the inaugural flight was a special delegation from the UAE including H.E. Eng. Sultan Saeed AlMansoori, UAE Minister of Economy, Jamal Al Hai, SVP Strategy & Development, DCA and Member of the Federal National Council of the UAE, and flydubai’s CEO, Ghaith Al Ghaith.

Addressing a press conference on arrival, H.E. Eng Sultan Saeed AlMansoori said: “This is an historic moment. Today we have not only witnessed flydubai’s first commercial flight but we have also seen a new chapter in the history of aviation in this region.”

He also highlighted the special relationship between the UAE and Lebanon: “There is a real bond between us,” he said. “The people of Lebanon and the Emirates are very similar in their outlook on life. This is one of the reasons we enjoy each other’s nations so much, as friends and as visitors.

“We want to give our UAE customers the chance to experience the uniqueness of Lebanon, and to offer the opportunity to the Lebanese people to visit us in the UAE. We are very different places, but very similar people,” he added.flydubai’s CEO, Mr Ghaith Al Ghaith, described the occasion as a great step forward for low cost travel in the region.“With flydubai we are entering a new era by providing a daily flight that will be more affordable, as well as being a little less complex and a little less stressful. We aim to bring our two communities together by giving people the chance to get together more often,” he said.“It is also the culmination of a lot of hard work to ensure our first flight was ready for take off when we promised it would be. From our historic order of fifty 737-800 aircraft from Boeing at the Farnborough Airshow last July, through choosing cabin crew uniforms, hiring staff, selecting seat design and catering, there has been a tremendous amount of work to do. Seeing it all come together so successfully today and seeing our passengers enjoying their experience with flydubai, makes this a very proud moment,” he said.As a true low cost airline flydubai is geared towards providing passengers with the best price and increased choice. Each fare is inclusive of seat price, all taxes and a generous hand baggage allowance of 10kgs, which is unmatched in the region. In addition, passengers will only have to pay for the optional extras they choose, such as checked bags of up to 32kgs each, seat selection and any required food and beverages.With flydubai’s one way fare from Beirut to Dubai costing from just US$100, it is expected the trip to Dubai will be popular to visit the Emirates’ attractions or to visit family and friends. And at prices from US$69 one way from Dubai to Beirut it is also a great opportunity for the nearly 200,000 Lebanese expatriates in the UAE to travel home.flydubai has already announced three other destinations. There will also be daily flights to Amman, Damascus and Alexandria, with more destinations to be announced in the near future.
 

Dubai Customs Glamorously Receives The First Flight of Fly Dubai

Dubai Customs has celebrated the arrival of the first flight of Fly Dubai heading from Beirut on June 1st, 2009 through Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport.Mr. Ali Al Mugahwi, Airport Operations Director in Dubai Customs, Mr. Humaid Mohammed Al Rashid, Acting Airport Terminal (2) Manager and a big number of Dubai Customs employees and customs inspectors have received the passengers with desserts and souvenirs. In addition, passengers were well-received in the offices and clearance counters of this new national airline.Passengers have expressed their pleasure for being glamorously received which has brought satisfaction into them and in particular into their children. They stated that this is not a surprise as UAE nationals are well-known for their hospitality and generosity as well as their sophisticated behavior in treating visitors and expatriatesMr. Ali Al Mugahwi said:" Following a good example of what is currently happening with Emirates Airline in Terminal (3) at Dubai International Airport, Dubai Customs has been taking necessary measures to receive Fly Dubai flights with qualified staffs and clearance offices specified for the passengers of Fly Dubai flights"."There is a great coordination and collaboration taking place between Dubai Customs on one hand and the Department of Civil Aviation and Dubai Airports Corporation on the other hand, regarding facilitating procedures of finishing passengers’ papers to cope with the cultural and economical prosperity that Dubai witnesses as well as the good reputation it enjoys on the tourism and international traveling levels. Necessary steps have been taken to meet the growth of Fly Dubai flights and the terminals of which these flights will land on over the upcoming period of time. The Department’s offices pioneer facilitation and customs work to passengers throughout more than 35 airline companies that are currently using Terminal (2)", Mr. Ali Al Mugahwi added.

Emirates scores a double with first ever A380 services to Bangkok and Toronto

The launch of Emirates’ A380 operations – daily to Bangkok and thrice weekly to Toronto – signals a new era of luxury air travel to Thailand and Canada, and represents yet another milestone in the airline’s A380 programme. 
 
EK 372 took off from Emirates’ new home, Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport, at 09:40 hours* carrying 488 passengers. It landed to a festive welcome by the Thai government at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 19:00 hours*.
 
EK 241 departed Dubai with 458 passengers and will be the first commercial A380 jet to touch down on Canadian soil at 15:45 hours*.
 
Senior management from Emirates flew on the two inaugural services. On arrival in Bangkok and Toronto, the A380s will be unveiled to local media, travel trade and key government officials.
 
The A380 is the world’s only twin-deck airliner that has 35 per cent more seats than its closest rival. It is the most environmentally-advanced commercial aircraft in the sky today, offering better fuel economy than most hybrid passenger cars. The A380 burns up to 20 per cent less fuel per seat than today’s next largest aircraft, and is quieter, generating less than half the noise of other aircraft on takeoff.
 
Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline said: “Emirates is delighted to celebrate its inaugural A380 services to Thailand and Canada today. The aircraft with its large capacity and excellent operating economies is a pillar of growth, both for the airline and the destination. In Thailand, the introduction of the super jumbo will support the local government’s multi-million dollar promotional drive to boost tourism arrivals from the high-yield Middle East region. At the same time the higher-capacity A380 will help address the strong demand for passenger and cargo services on the Dubai-Toronto route which is currently restricted by the bi-lateral agreement to three flights per week.”
 
Hailing the arrival of Emirates’ A380 as a positive development for Thailand’s tourism industry, Mr. Chaisak Angkasuwan, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Thailand said: “We are delighted Emirates selected Bangkok as the first Far East gateway for its revolutionary A380 product. Our current marketing and trade campaigns focus on promoting Thailand as an ideal holiday destination in the Middle East. Travellers from this region make multiple visits to Thailand, staying on an average nine days and spending over USD 500 million annually. We welcome the opportunity to partner with Emirates to grow the tourism potential from this region.”
 
Despite the current economic environment, the Middle East continues to deliver positive year-on-year growth of 5.7%. Tourist arrivals from the UAE alone rose by 99.46% for January 2009 compared to the same period last year.
 
Lloyd McCoomb, President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) said: “The GTAA is honoured to be part of this historic day. We are pleased that this route has proven so successful for Emirates and we are very excited to welcome the A380 to Toronto Pearson. This is exactly what this airport was rebuilt for – to allow for new and larger aircraft that will be the future of the airline business.”
 
Mr. Clark added: “With air travel due to triple in the next 18 years and constraints on traffic rights and airport slots to continue, larger capacity aircraft such as the A380 are key to Emirates’ plans to meet increasing passenger demand. We have ordered 58 A380s and each one of these has been carefully planned for our present and future requirements. Our next A380 destination will be Seoul on 1st December, and will represent Emirates’ first A380 service to North East Asia.”
 
The Emirates’ A380 – with 14 First Class Private Suites, 76 Business Class and 399 Economy seats – represents the latest innovation and technology from a company recognized internationally for its in-flight amenities and services. Unique to the Emirates aircraft are its Shower Spas – two fully-equipped bathrooms in the First class cabins with shower facilities. Emirates A380’s ground-breaking in-flight product also features an Onboard Lounge for First and Business class passengers which includes a bar with a wide range of beverages and canapés as well as an exclusive space to socialise or simply relax.
 
A380 passengers enjoy an elaborate menu created by top international chefs and complemented by the finest beverages. Emirates’ award-winning ‘ice’ (information, communication, entertainment) in-flight entertainment system offers more than 1000 channels of on-demand entertainment, the largest programming currently available in the skies. Each cabin is equipped with an advanced mood lighting system, complete with a starlit sky, which adjusts throughout the flight to reflect the time at the destination and to help combat the effects of jet lag.
 
First class passengers relax in flat-bed, massage-equipped suites while Business class passengers enjoy a new generation of intelligent seating designed to ensure all 76 flat-bed seats have aisle access. Passengers in Economy will appreciate the straight walls throughout the cabin that lend to a more spacious ambience, enhanced further by generous seats and wider aisles.

FlyDubai will make tickets for its flights available through the Emirates Post Office network across the UAE

Post offices will act as selling agents for the low cost airline, offering booking facilities and accepting payment for reservations made online."Our aim is to change the way people travel by making the process simple, convenient and hassle-free," said the airline’s CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith. "People have different preferences and while some prefer to book via the internet or call centre, other prefer to do so in person. Keeping this in mind, we decided to partner with Emirates Post, allowing us access to their widespread network across the Emirate and therefore bringing us closer to the community." Some 101 outlets make up the Emirates Post Office network. Flydubai will begin commercial flights on June 1 when it takes off for Beirut from Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport.

First Class Holiday Competition To Celebrate Al Maha’s 10th Anniversary

Emirates Hotels & Resorts has today announced a major, first class holiday competition in celebration of Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa’s 10th Anniversary, and the opening of Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa later this year.

This unique opportunity will be open to all Emirates Hotels & Resorts guests who stay for a minimum of three nights at either Al Maha in Dubai or Wolgan Valley in Australia between 1st October and 31st December 2009.

The winner will receive a five day stay for two people on a full board basis at the sister resort. The prize also includes two First Class return tickets with Emirates airline from anywhere in the world within its global network, private airport transfers, two treatments at the Emirates Hotels & Resorts’ Timeless Spa and two leisure activities per day. The prize is worth an estimated US$30,000 and is valid until 1st October 2010. The winner will also have the option to extend the dream trip to explore more of the United Arab Emirates or Australia.

Tony Williams, Senior Vice President, Resorts & Projects, Emirates Hotels & Resorts, said: “The success of Al Maha would not have been achieved without the continued support of all our guests, and so this competition is not only an exceptional prize, but it gives us the opportunity to say thank you to them.

“The competition will enable the winner to experience a different world class conservation-based resort, with all the trappings of a luxury holiday. It’s a unique opportunity to see the diverse conservation work that the Emirates team is doing across two continents, as both Al Maha and Wolgan Valley have a focus on the protection of endangered species, and the conservation of very different environments.”

Opened in 1999, Al Maha provides a secluded haven just 45 minutes from Dubai International Airport where travellers are assured privacy within the tranquillity of the stunning Arabian Desert. Its ongoing success and popularity have showcased Emirates Hotels & Resorts’ conservation-based philosophy and its commitment to supporting, managing and protecting the local environment and the preservation of species within its habitat.

The resort has received a host of international accolades, including awards that highlight the world’s finest hospitality venues, leading environmental designs, contributions to conservation and the protection of biodiversity. Al Maha’s success includes being the only leisure hotel in Dubai within the Top 20 of Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards for the Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean regions in 2008. National Geographic also named it as one of the world’s Top 50 Ecolodges and presented it with The World Legacy Award in 2004.

Building on Al Maha’s success and scheduled for ‘soft opening’ in October, Wolgan Valley is located within the heart of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Occupying just two per cent of a 4,000-acre conservancy reserve, the resort will be Australia’s first luxury conservation-based property. Less than three hours drive from Sydney International Airport, Wolgan Valley forms the centrepiece for unique experiences and insights into Australia’s wildlife, history and cultural heritage, and offers the ultimate in seclusion, comfort and guest-focused services. Whilst awaiting completion it has already received its first accolade, the Certificate of Recognition at the 2005 New South Wales Tourism Awards.

Terms and conditions for the competition will apply. For further information, please contact Emirates Hotels & Resorts on +971 04 303 4221.

Terminal 2 To Become flydubai’s New Home

Dubai’s first low cost airline, flydubai, has announced it will operate from a modernised and enhanced Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport, when it begins its services later this year.

flydubai is currently on schedule to take off with the launch of its first routes mid-2009, operating a fleet of Boeing aircraft, each offering 189 economy class seats. Launch routes will be announced shortly and will include a range of destinations within four and a half hours flying time of Dubai.

In preparation for the launch of flydubai, the re-development of Terminal 2 is already well underway, with finishing touches being put to Phase 1 improvements this week. Dubai Airports has commissioned the work to be carried out by the contracting company widely acclaimed for its impressive work at Dubai International’s Terminal 3. Terminal 2 already boasts extended, brighter departure and arrival areas, additional departure gates, a specially-designed children’s play area and new and improved food and beverage outlets. Further enhancements are planned.

"As a low cost airline, flydubai will focus firmly on providing the very best value to our customers in a modern and convenient international environment" said the airline’s CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith. "In Terminal 2 we have found an ideal home which will allow us to bring efficiencies to our operations and a range of facilities and benefits to our customers".

The one-level Terminal 2, with its central location on the north side of Dubai International Airport, will ultimately be served by a new transport infrastructure on Al Ittihad and Al Twar Roads, which will provide better approach routes and access. The interior design, coupled with the fact that its 1,000 car parking spaces are all at ground level just outside the front doors of the terminal, means that check-in and transiting times through the airport will be greatly streamlined.

flydubai aims to capitalise on the region’s growing budget travel segment and serve the considerable expatriate population by giving people the opportunity to fly more often. "As a low cost airline, our business model is to provide the best value to our customers, in a simple and transparent way and with the utmost of safety – we look forward to serving the growing numbers of travellers in this region and to bringing people together more often," Mr. Al Ghaith concluded.

The airline’s operations team is currently finalising routes, which are likely to include the Indian subcontinent, north and east Africa, southeast Europe and the Middle East.

flydubai – Uncomplicated, Low Fare Travel

flydubai, Dubai’s first low cost airline, today reveals details of its plans to bring a fresh new approach to air travel in the region, offering an easy and affordable way to travel.

The airline has simplified the check-in process by issuing boarding passes instead of paper or e-tickets, which means passengers are checked-in once their booking is paid for. Passengers will be able to book online at flydubai.com at no charge or through the flydubai call centre or one of its travel partners for a small fee. flydubai’s new website, complete with full information and booking facilities, will be available soon.

CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith commented on the new airline’s approach to making travel the flydubai way less complex, less stressful and less expensive: “As a true low cost airline, we have looked very hard at ways to make our operations more efficient. If we find a cost that can be eliminated, we will – with the savings passed onto our customers,” he said.

“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,” he said.

flydubai will be based at Dubai International Airport, flying from a modernised and enhanced Terminal 2 on the north side of the airport. It will fly a fleet of Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft, with 189 economy seats, to popular destinations within 4.5 hours flying time of Dubai. An announcement about routes and prices will be made shortly.

The new airline is rapidly gearing up for its launch, having just announced the appointment of over 60 captains, 18 first officers and 80 cabin crew after being inundated with over 11,500 applicants from around the world.