flydubai begins dual-hub strategy with Dubai World Central launch. Emirates still silent on DWC move

The future is arriving. From 25-Oct-2015 flydubai for the first time will commence regular services from Dubai Al Maktoum Airport at Dubai World Central (DWC), supplementing existing services at its main base of Dubai International (DXB). Seven cities will be served collectively 70 times a week, but this will grow in subsequent seasons. The soon-to-be massive DWC is the future of flydubai, sister carrier Emirates Airline, the Emirate of Dubai - and much of global aviation.

Emirates remains firm that its large, connection-heavy model means it cannot run a split hub and so will move from DXB to DWC in one go sometime next decade. But flydubai, which has more local traffic and a regional focus, can more easily run a dual hub, although still a daunting task. The equation is complex with multiple factors. Shifting flydubai growth to DWC frees up DXB slots, potentially advantageous to Emirates; allows flydubai to target a different catchment area; and becomes an anchor carrier for DWC, which sees limited traffic.