flydubai, Dubai's first low cost airline, has now completed the selection process of its pilots and crew in preparation for the airline's launch. Over the past few months, the airline has been inundated with over 11,500 applications from flight and cabin crew keen to join flydubai before it starts flights mid-2009. Over 8,000 candidates for pilots alone were screened, of which 61 captains and 18 first officers, representing more than 12 nationalities have been selected. A highly skilled and experienced team of pilots and cabin crew is now undergoing training and preparation in readiness to offer the highest safety standards, combined with flydubai's own unique style of exceptional customer service. flydubai pilots include senior managers, chief pilots, chief technical pilots, director of flight operations and several certified Type Rating Examiners (TRE) which represents the highest accomplishment a pilot can obtain. So far, 80 cabin crew have been employed from the 3,500 applications received. The first group of 21 cabin crew and 24 captains are currently undergoing training in preparation for flydubai's launch in a few months' time. flydubai will operate a fleet of brand new next-generation Boeing 737-800s, each with 189 economy class seats. Full details of the product, how to buy and ‘flydubai' together with information about the initial routes, will be announced shortly. Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai said: “We have had a huge response from applicants who are keen to come and join us, which shows the excitement amongst flight crew at the prospect of joining a new and exciting airline and also demonstrates that Dubai is still seen as an attractive place to live and work. flydubai aims to provide the best possible service and value to our customers and of course with the utmost of safety and professionalism.”
