flydubai

flydubai (Arabic: فلاي دبي‎), legally Dubai Aviation Corporation (Arabic: مؤسسة دبي للطيران‎[2]), is a government-owned budget airline in Dubai, United Arab Emirates with its head office and flight operations in Terminal 2 of Dubai International Airport.[3] The airline operates a total of 95 destinations, serving the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe from Dubai.[4] The company slogan is Get Going.

flydubai
فلاي دبي
IATA ICAO Callsign
FZ FDB SKY DUBAI
Founded19 March 2008
Commenced operations1 June 2009
HubsDubai International Airport
Focus citiesAl Maktoum International Airport
Fleet size54
Destinations94
Parent companyEmirates
HeadquartersDubai International Airport
Dubai, UAE
Key people
Employees3321 (June 2015)[1]
Websitewww.flydubai.com

History
Flydubai's first Boeing 737-800, registration A6-FDA

In July 2008, the government of Dubai established the airline.[3] Although flydubai is not part of The Emirates Group, Emirates supported flydubai during the initial establishing phase.[5]

On 14 July 2008 flydubai signed a firm order with American aircraft manufacturer Boeing at the Farnborough Air Show for 50 Boeing 737-800s with a total value of US$3.74 billion, with the option to change the order to the larger and longer range Boeing 737-900ER, according to the airline's demand. The first of these aircraft was delivered on 17 May 2009. Scheduled flights commenced on 1 June, with services to Beirut, Lebanon, and Amman, Jordan. Since then, the route network has been significantly expanded.

On 13 February 2013, flydubai announced that it was in talks with Boeing and Airbus for a 50-aircraft order.[6][7] On 19 June 2013, the airline announced that it would be adding Business Class service to its flights.[8] The Business class cabin would feature 12 seats between aisle and window, three-course meals, 12-inch televisions, a business class lounge, Italian leather seats to its offering in a bid to cater to business travellers in the emirate, access to more than 200 films, and power outlets suitable for plugs from over 170 countries.[9][10]

In March 2020, Flydubai suffered considerable losses due to the grounding of Boeing's Max 737 aircraft around the world. The state-owned company claims that its growth strategy was severely impacted by the incident as it had 11 of the said aircraft, as well as more than 220 on order. Company CEO Ghaith Al-Ghaith said that an interim settlement agreement was made with Boeing for certain compensation but details of the agreement remain confidential.[11]

Corporate affairs

Management and ownership

The company was formed on 19 March 2008 as a venture by the Government of Dubai. The Government of Dubai also owns Emirates Airlines; however, the common ownership is the only connection between the two airlines. Even though the airline did get some help from its sister airline initially, it has been run independently since. Also, there was an initial move of executives, but the major bulk of the hiring comes from outside the Emirates group.[12] The CEO of the company is Ghaith Al-Ghaith, who spent over 22 years with Emirates.[12] The chair of the company is Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who is also the chairman of the Emirates group.

Headquarters

flydubai operates entirely out of Dubai and currently has its headquarters in Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport in addition to some flights departing from Terminal 3.[13] Initially, flydubai had intentions to operate from the new Al-Maktoum International Airport in the Dubai World Centre in Jebel Ali.[13]

Development Centres

Flydubai sets up its first ‘Indian Development Centre’ (IDC) in Hyderabad. The centre leads flydubai’s IT and technology innovation which will focus on Passenger Service Systems (PSS). IDC will be a hub for software development, research and operations.[14]

The key trends for flydubai over recent years are shown below (as at year ending 31 December):

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Turnover (AED m) 2,778 3,700 4,400 4,900 5,000 5,500
Profits (AED m) 151.9 222.8 250 100.7 31.6 37.3
Number of passengers (m) 5.10 6.82 7.25 9.04 10.4 10.9
Number of aircraft (at year end) 28 36 43 50 57
Number of destinations 52 66 86 100
Notes/sources [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Destinations
Main article: List of flydubai destinations

As of May 2017, flydubai serves more than 90 destinations.[21][22] The airline currently has one hub and operates out of Terminal 2 of Dubai International Airport.[12] However, to accommodate for the growing airline and the expansion of the national airline at DXB, flydubai began to operate flights out of Al-Maktoum International (DWC) from 25 October 2015. The airline began with 70 flights per week to Amman, Beirut, Chittagong, Doha, Kathmandu, Kuwait and Muscat from DWC.[23]

Codeshare agreements

flydubai codeshares with the following airlines:

Fleet
flydubai Boeing 737-800
flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8

Current fleet

As of November 2019, the flydubai fleet consists of the following 737 aircraft:[25][26]

flydubai fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
C Y Total
Boeing 737-800 40[27] — — 189 189 Older aircraft to be returned to lessors
12 162 174
Boeing 737 MAX 8 11[28] 119 10 156 166
Boeing 737 MAX 9 3 67[29] 16 156 172[30]
Boeing 737 MAX 10 — 50[29] TBA
Total 54 236

Order history
Boeing 737-800

At the Farnborough Air Show in July 2008, the airline ordered 50 Boeing 737-800s valued at approximately US$3.74 billion with substitution rights to convert its 737-800 orders to 737-900ERs (extended range) in the future.[31] In November 2010, flydubai agreed a sale and leaseback deal with Avolon on another four 737-800s.[32]

Boeing 737 MAX

On 17 November 2013 at the Dubai Airshow, Boeing and flydubai announced a commitment for about 100 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and 11 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. This commitment was valued at about US$11.4 billion at list prices, making it the largest ever Boeing single-aisle airliner purchase in the Middle-East.[33] On 6 January 2014, flydubai finalised its Boeing 737 MAX order. The order was finalised with an order for 75 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and 11 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft, along with the purchase rights for 25 more Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. This order is valued at US$8.8 billion at list prices.[34] On 31 July 2017, flydubai took delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8, making it the first airline in the Middle East to operate the type.[35][36] At the November 2017 Dubai Air Show, Flydubai signed a landmark commitment for 175 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and 50 purchase rights. This order for 225 aircraft is valued to be $27 billion at current list prices. More than 50 of the first 175 airplanes will be the new 737 MAX 10, while the rest will be the 737 MAX 9 and additional 737 MAX 8s. This historic commitment represents the largest single-aisle jet purchase by a Middle East airline.[37] On 21 December 2017, flydubai finalized its purchase of 175 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes in the largest single-aisle jet order in Middle East history first announced at the 2017 Dubai Air Show.[38]

In-flight features

Economy class

Full meal service is provided on some services to European and African destinations. Alcoholic beverages and additional snacks can be purchased after main service has finished. On other flights within the network, passengers can pre-book a hot meal, and on flights over 3 hours and on shorter flights, a full menu of wraps and sandwiches is available. Purchases can be made from the crew or from the personal touch screens in each seat.

Business class

In June 2012 it was announced that business class would be added as a service.[39] As of June 2015, 85 of flydubai's destinations have the business class service. Each business class equipped aircraft contains 12 seats with a seat pitch of 42 inches. Along with a wider seat, on board the airline offers services such as: a choice of snacks, meals and drinks; access to more than 200 films, a power outlet, blankets and pillows and noise-cancelling headphones. The Business Class services also extend at selected airports. At selected airports they offer priority check-in and fast track through security checks.[40] On 6 July 2014, flydubai announced the opening of their business lounge at Dubai International Airport.[41] The lounge is located in Terminal 2 and has a free Wi-Fi, Refreshments and Snacks.[42]

Safety video

The flydubai safety video features characters from the computer-animated Emirati television series Freej.[43] The central character in the video is a flight attendant named Maya.[44]

Ground handling

flydubai passengers can transfer their baggage to connecting Emirates and flydubai flights when checking-in.[45]

Accidents and incidents
  • On 26 January 2015, a flydubai Boeing 737-800 operating flight 215 from Dubai to Baghdad, was hit by small arms fire on approach to Baghdad International Airport with 154 passengers on board. The aircraft landed safely and no medical attention was needed at the airport.[46]
  • On 19 March 2016, Flydubai Flight 981, a Boeing 737-800 operating from Dubai to Rostov-on-Don in Russia, crashed during a go-around in inclement weather at Rostov-on-Don Airport. All 55 passengers and 7 crew on board died in the accident.[47] It was the first fatal accident in the airline's history.[48] The cause was found out to be pilot error.[49]

References
  1. "flydubai 2014 profits jump 19%". Emites 24/7. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  2. "سياسة الخصوصية." flydubai. Retrieved on August 10, 2011.
  3. "Terms and conditions." flydubai. Retrieved on 21 June 2010. "The website is owned and operated by Flydubai, whose principal office is at Dubai International Airport, Terminal 2, PO Box 353, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Flydubai is a Dubai corporation formed by the government of Dubai in July 2008."
  4. "flydubai destinations." flydubai. Retrieved on June 27, 2013.
  5. "Confident flydubai preparing for takeoff". Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  6. "Budget Carrier FlyDubai In Talks For 50 Aircraft Order." Reuters. Retrieved on June 27, 2013.
  7. "FlyDubai Considers 50 New Aircraft." Gulf News. Retrieved on June 27, 2013.
  8. "Introducing Business Class." FlyDubai. Retrieved on June 27, 2013.
  9. "FlyDubai Announces Of New Business Class Service Archived 2013-10-12 at the Wayback Machine." 7DaysInDubai. Retrieved on June 27, 2013.
  10. "FlyDubai Introduces Business Class Services." Gulf News. Retrieved on June 27, 2013.
  11. "Budget Carrier Flydubai Slams Boeing for Loss of Business". Manufacturing.net. 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
  12. "Flydubai - UAE's low-cost growth driver". Flight Global. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  13. "Flydubai Facts". Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  14. "Flydubai to set up India development centre in Hyderabad". The Financial Express. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
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  19. "flydubai announces 14.4% passenger growth to 10.4 million and profit of AED 31.6 million". flydubai. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
  20. "flydubai sees strong growth in revenues, record passengers and sustained profit". flydubai. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
  21. "Destinations | flydubai | Choose Your Destination". flydubai. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  22. "flydubai fly to more than 90 destinations". flydubai. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
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  27. https://simpleflying.com/flydubai-boeing-737-lease/
  28. "flydubai weighs up Airbus order as MAX grounding drags on". ch-aviation. 2019-05-02. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
  29. "flydubai to add maiden B737 MAX 9 in 2H18". ch-aviation. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  30. "flydubai files 737 MAX 9 preliminary operation in 2Q19". Routesonline. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
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  33. "Boeing". Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  34. "Boeing". Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  35. "Boeing Delivers First 737 MAX 8 to flydubai". Boeing Mediaroom. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
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  37. Saffana Michael (15 Nov 2017). "Boeing, flydubai Sign Historic Deal for 225 737 MAX Airplanes". Boeing Mediaroom.
  38. "Boeing, flydubai Finalize Order for 175 737 MAX Airplanes". Boeing Mediaroom. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
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  44. "Maya by Freej Archived 2017-10-27 at the Wayback Machine." Flydubai Shop. Retrieved on March 21, 2016.
  45. "flydubai DT review". Destination Travel. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  46. "Boeing Hit by Gunfire in Baghdad". Airliner World: 83. March 2015.
  47. "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737-8KN A6-FDN Rostov Airport (ROV)". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  48. Baldwin, Derek (19 March 2016). "Flydubai crash surprising as airline has excellent safety record, Dubai-based analyst says". Gulf News. Dubai. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
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