Flydubai, the sister airline of Emirates, expects to record double-digit operational growth next year as air travel demand surges to unprecedented levels following the Covid-19 pandemic, its chief executive said.
The low-cost airline is currently more than 80 per cent larger than its overall pre-pandemic size in 2019 in terms of the number of aircraft, destinations, employees and passenger traffic, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Flydubai's boss, said at a media briefing on Thursday.
The airline currently operates a fleet of 71 Boeing 737 Max aircraft to 114 destinations globally with a workforce of more than 4,650 employees.
"Demand is out of this world, we've never seen such demand, and this is why we're very optimistic," Mr Al Ghaith said. "Next year will also be very good demand-wise ... and I think this momentum will continue also in 2024."
He cited growth factors including the UAE government's management of the pandemic, the impact of hosting Expo 2020 Dubai and the regional spillover from the Fifa World Cup in Qatar. New visa schemes introduced by the government are also making it easier for more people to live, work and retire in Dubai, he added.
The global exposure from such mega events continues to attract a flow of new business and travellers to the region even in their aftermath, Mr Al Ghaith said.
Flydubai expects to turn a profit in 2022 amid strong travel demand and a tight rein on costs, its chief executive said. The airline posted a Dh841 million ($229 million) profit in 2021, compared with a Dh712.6 million loss in 2020, as travel restrictions eased and economic conditions improved globally.
'Biggest recruitment drive'
Flydubai is stepping up operations to meet growth in passenger demand with an expanding fleet, network and workforce.
In 2022, it took delivery of 20 new Boeing 737 Max aircraft and grew its network to 114 destinations.
To support this growth, it has hired more than 1,300 new employees since the start of this year, 80 per cent of whom are cabin crew, engineers and pilots, creating a workforce of more than 4,650 people.
This marks the biggest recruitment drive that the airline has undertaken.
Plans to further grow its workforce are currently under way and will continue throughout next year, the airline said.
In 2023, the airline will take delivery of 17 new 737 Max aircraft and plans to add seven new routes to its network.
These include flights to Cagliari in Sardinia, Corfu in Greece, Gan in the Maldives, Krabi and Pattaya in Thailand, Milan Bergamo in Italy and St Petersburg in Russia.
The airline could announce more destinations in addition to these seven routes depending on market conditions, Mr Al Ghaith said.
Macroeconomic conditions
Pent-up demand for travel will weather higher inflation rates that are biting into consumer spending, the airline's chief said.
"I don't think it will hurt demand ... I can guarantee that until the summer for sure demand will be very strong and I think the rest of the year will be very strong," Mr Al Ghaith said.
The airline is constantly looking into financing options, he said when asked about the requirement to raise funds for jet deliveries next year.
There is a "very unfavourable increase" in interest rates in the market, which is a "small concern" because of higher borrowing costs for the industry, Mr Al Ghaith said.
However, the availability and pricing of funding for Flydubai have been at their best levels due to market confidence in the company, he said.
The central banks of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar raised their benchmark borrowing rates after the US Federal Reserve increased its key interest rate for the seventh time this year to restore price stability and tame inflation that hit a four-decade high.
Asked about higher jet fuel prices, Mr Al Ghaith said this was the airline industry's "biggest challenge" and the focus was on adjusting prices accordingly.
Mr Al Ghaith also called for greater intervention by governments and other stakeholders globally to increase the supply of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) for airlines to use. SAF has been touted as a near-term solution for the global airline industry to reduce its carbon footprint on the journey to net-zero by 2050.
World Cup shuttle flights
Flydubai operated 1,290 flights between Dubai World Central (DWC) and Doha International Airport (DIA) to carry more than 130,000 football fans to the World Cup in Qatar between November 21 and December 19.
Load factors on Flydubai's shuttles reached about 60 per cent, exceeding the airline's own expectations of 50 per cent, Mr Al Ghaith said.
After Qatar Airways, Flydubai ranked second in terms of the number of match-day flight shuttles to Doha by Gulf carriers, he said.
"We created in this operation, a very unique, seamless travel [experience] that made it so easy for people to go to the World Cup and come back, it was like a dream," Mr Al Ghaith said.
Passengers from 171 countries travelled to Doha on Flydubai's match-day shuttle flights.
The top 10 nationalities in terms of passengers were the UK, India, UAE, France, Argentina, US, Morocco, Jordan, Canada and Brazil who made up to 60 per cent of the overall number travelling on these shuttle flights.
Flydubai operated up to 30 daily return shuttle flights between DWC and Doha, with a shuttle flight departing every 30 minutes during peak travel periods.
These flights were operated by seven of the carrier’s Boeing 737 aircraft which were temporarily used by DWC for the duration of the tournament.
Company%20Profile
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Profile Idealz
Company: Idealz
Founded: January 2018
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Size: (employees): 22
Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)
match info
Maratha Arabians 138-2
C Lynn 91*, A Lyth 20, B Laughlin 1-15
Team Abu Dhabi 114-3
L Wright 40*, L Malinga 0-13, M McClenaghan 1-17
Maratha Arabians won by 24 runs
More on Quran memorisation:
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Tuesday results:
- Singapore bt Malaysia by 29 runs
- UAE bt Oman by 13 runs
- Hong Kong bt Nepal by 3 wickets
Final:
Thursday, UAE v Hong Kong
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Tips%20for%20holiday%20homeowners
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A Bad Moms Christmas
Dir: John Lucas and Scott Moore
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines
Two stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”
Favourite film: “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”
Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More coverage from the Future Forum
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Zayed Sustainability Prize
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Read more about the coronavirus
The years Ramadan fell in May
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The biog
Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.
It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.
They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Astra%20Tech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbdallah%20Abu%20Sheikh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20technology%20investment%20and%20development%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24500m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Five ways to get fit like Craig David (we tried for seven but ran out of time)
Start the week as you mean to go on. So get your training on strong on a Monday.
Train hard, but don’t take it all so seriously that it gets to the point where you’re not having fun and enjoying your friends and your family and going out for nice meals and doing that stuff.
Think about what you’re training or eating a certain way for — don’t, for example, get a six-pack to impress somebody else or lose weight to conform to society’s norms. It’s all nonsense.
Get your priorities right.
And last but not least, you should always, always chill on Sundays.
Scoreline
Australia 2-1 Thailand
Australia: Juric 69', Leckie 86'
Thailand: Pokklaw 82'
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Set-jetting on the Emerald Isle
Other shows filmed in Ireland include: Vikings (County Wicklow), The Fall (Belfast), Line of Duty (Belfast), Penny Dreadful (Dublin), Ripper Street (Dublin), Krypton (Belfast)
