Dubai, UAE, 18th May: flydubai, Dubai's first low cost airline, has signed a deal that will make the new airline the much anticipated launch customer of the revolutionary 'Fiber To The Screen'(FTTS™) In-Flight Entertainment system from Lumexis.

The deal, announced at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg today, is for 44 flydubai B737-800NGs, the first of which is due to arrive in October 2010.

flydubai CEO, Ghaith Al Ghaith, explained why the low cost carrier had taken the step of investing in the new IFE system from Lumexis: "In-flight entertainment is very popular with passengers, but the traditional systems were prohibitively expensive for us as a low cost carrier. The Lumexis FTTS touch screen system offers us a flexible, high quality and innovative IFE option at a fraction of the normal cost.

"The FTTS system from Lumexis is revolutionary because it uses fibre optics rather than traditional copper piping. This significantly reduces the cost of the system overall, and makes it far lighter than other IFEs in use today. Any reduction in weight reduces our fuel costs and therefore ensures we can keep our ticket prices low.

"The Lumexis FTTS IFE is incredibly flexible and we are working closely with Lumexis to develop the system to reflect the flydubai model. flydubai is all about reducing complexity and offering our passengers choice. Our IFE will be available as an optional extra in the way that baggage and meals are. Passengers, travelling on flydubai aircraft fitted with the FTTS system, will have the ability to choose different parts of the system depending on their preference and how much they want to spend, and as flydubai likes to do things differently, we plan to offer functionality on our IFE system that other airlines traditionally don't have."

Doug Cline, CEO of Lumexis, said: "Lumexis is privileged to be partnered with such a forward thinking and innovative carrier. As the launch customer for our second generation of FTTS, flydubai demanded not only extremely low cost-of-ownership, but most importantly, the highest reliability and performance to ensure uninterrupted service and full passenger satisfaction."

Since November 2009 when Lumexis announced they had contracted with an unnamed Boeing 737 operator as the launch customer, the identity of the airline has been the object of intense industry speculation. Few observers had expected the answer to be a low cost carrier.  But as Cline explained, "While it provides unmatched delivery capacity, the unique FTTS fiber optic network is so efficient that the installed system is half the cost and weight of earlier generation, copper-based systems. As a result, the latest passenger-pleasing, revenue-producing services can be offered on board the most cost-competitive airline." 

-Ends- 

About flydubai:
Established in March 2008 with start-up capital of AED 250 million, flydubai is Dubai's first low cost airline. Owned by the government of Dubai, the airline will support the city's commercial and tourism sectors by serving all travellers, providing them with affordable air links to a range of destinations.

With flydubai, travellers can take 1 piece of hand baggage (weighing up to 10 kg) no larger than 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm on board without charge. If the bag does not meet the cabin requirements, it will be checked into the aircraft hold at a cost of AED 150.  For a little extra, passengers can check a bag. Each bag purchased can hold up to 32 kg and not larger than 90 cm x 75 cm x 43 cm. If customers want to take more, an additional bag can be purchased, subject to availability.  

Based on a low cost business model, flydubai offers a value-for-money product at an extremely competitive price. Its website (www.flydubai.com) will be an important interface for customers, together with a call centre (+9714 301 0800) and travel partners.   

About Lumexis Corporation:
Lumexis Corporation, based in Irvine, California, is a manufacturer and marketer of fiber optic-based, In-Flight Entertainment and eCommerce Systems.  Contact the company through its website, www.lumexis.com , or by telephone at +1.714.641.4900.

For further information, please contact:
Zahabia Motiwala or Rima Salman at the flydubai press office at Polaris PR. Telephone: (+9714) 341 5555. Zahabia Motiwala mobile: (+971) 50 768 9440. Rima Salman mobile: (+971) 50 273 4869. E-mail: z.motiwala@polaris-me.com or r.salman@polaris-me.com

Heather Redpath, PR Manager for flydubai at Mobile: (+971) 50 9508420; Email: heather.redpath@flydubai.com

© Press Release 2010