Ready for take-off: Flydubai prepares for passenger flights

The Dubai low-cost airline is set to fly again with cabin crew in protective gear and new rules for passengers

Dubai's low-cost airline Flydubai is getting set to return to the sky after authorities announced that Emiratis and UAE residents would be able to travel from Tuesday, June 23.

Further details on the travel return haven't been given by the government, and Flydubai has not confirmed a date for its relaunch, but has said it's currently working on getting ready for take off. It has released information on what flights will look like when they do resume.

The airline says it has "re-engineered the entire passenger journey" to follow the advice of several international health and aviation organisations.

Flydubai says it will announce more information on where it will start flying to once UAE flight restrictions are lifted.

Travellers flying with the low-cost airline should expect things to be a little different.

As part of the new measures, all passengers will be required to wear face masks on Flydubai flights.

The airline recommends that travellers bring spare masks for their journey, as well as hand sanitiser and wet wipes. Customers who forget to pack these items can purchase personal hygiene kits from the newly installed PPE vending machine in Terminal 2.

Flydubai also recommends that passengers arrive earlier than normal at the airport. This is to allow extra time for thermal screening processes.

All cabin crew will wear full personal protective equipment, including gloves, long-sleeved aprons, visors and face masks.

Crew will also follow enhanced hygiene measures for passenger toilets, which will be cleaned every 20 minutes during flights.

Safety first

All Flydubai jets will be sterilised on a daily basis to ensure traveller safety. Courtesy Flydubai

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All Flydubai jets are sterilised every day, using certified cleaning products.

To ensure air in the cabin is as safe as possible, there are high-efficiency particulate air (Hepa) filters that the company says removes about 99.9 per cent of particles. Cabin air is also changed every two to three minutes, meaning fresh sterile air is continuously being filtered through to the cabin.

Flydubai's chief executive, Ghaith Al Ghaith, thanked the leaders of the UAE for their guidance during the pandemic.

“The steps that were taken across the UAE will enable us to return to service in a safe and measured way. Dubai, as an established centre for international aviation has always operated to the highest international standards and the combined efforts across the industry over the last few months will allow our passengers to travel once again in a safe environment," he said.

23,000 people flown home

While passenger flights have been grounded, Flydubai has transported 3,704,991kg of cargo on 657 flights.

While passenger flights have been suspended in the UAE, Flydubai has been busy operating repatriation flights to take travellers back home and allow UAE nationals and residents to return. These flights have carried 23,000 people to several destinations around the world.

Cargo flights have continued to operate throughout the passenger flight ban, to bring essential items into Dubai. To date, 657 all-cargo flights have carried 3,704,991kg of cargo from 35 destinations.