Czech carrier Smartwings is to wet-lease four Boeing 737-800s to the Middle Eastern operator Flydubai, to help offset a capacity loss from the 737 Max grounding.
Czech carrier Smartwings is to wet-lease four Boeing 737-800s to the Middle Eastern operator Flydubai, to help offset a capacity loss from the 737 Max grounding.
Flydubai states that it has finalised an agreement to lease the four -800s from Smartwings for the period from 14 December this year to 25 January 2020.
The jets will provide additional capacity during the busy seasonal travel period, says Flydubai, which has 40 737-800s – as well as 14 737 Max jets grounded since March.
Chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith says the disruption caused by the grounding has been “significant”, forcing a 30% cut in its schedule.
“These four additional aircraft will enable more passengers to have more options to travel during the holiday season,” he adds. The all-economy jets will operate to destinations including Bahrain, Kuwait, Karachi and Muscat.
Smartwings has seven Max aircraft of its own in storage following the grounding in March.
“This kind of co-operation by wet-lease agreement is one of way to achieve even higher and more effective use of our aircraft in the winter season when there is lower demand for flying in Europe,” says its chief, Roman Vik.
