DUBAI: flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, has announced a new partnership with Air
Canada to give customers flying between Canada, the Middle East, East Africa, Indian
Subcontinent and Southern Asia more convenient travel options.
Pending final regulatory approval, Air Canada’s marketing code will be placed on nine
routes operated from Dubai by flydubai, giving customers the ability to travel to these
markets with the issuance of a single ticket. The nine routes include Bahrain, Dammam,
Jeddah, Madinah and Muscat in the GCC as well as to Colombo and Karachi in the
Indian Subcontinent.
Additionally, through an interline arrangement, customers will be able to seamlessly
connect in Dubai to more than 60 destinations that flydubai flies to in the Middle East,
East Africa and Southern Asia – including Djibouti, Kathmandu and the Maldives. Of
these destinations, more than 30 are unique to flydubai and not flown by other partners
of Air Canada.
Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said: “we are very pleased to
be adding Air Canada to our list of partners and to offer their passengers a seamless
travel experience on the flydubai network. We look forward to growing this partnership
that offers passengers the benefits and the convenience of connecting via the Dubai
aviation hub and we look forward to welcoming them on board soon.”
Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada,
said: “Air Canada is very pleased to partner with flydubai, further expanding our
connectivity to the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, a growing source of
immigration and travel to Canada. This new partnership is a perfect complement to Air
Canada’s nonstop service to Dubai from Toronto and Vancouver, and growing our
relationship with Emirates, flydubai’s codeshare partner. Together we look forward to
bringing together our networks and building a better experience for our customers.”
The airlines also plan on further improving the connection process in Dubai and are
working toward introducing expanded features and benefits for one another’s loyalty
programme members to be announced later this year.