Flydubai cancelled the launch of routes planned for 2024 and reduced capacity on others because of Boeing jet delivery delays and supply-chain problems. Jeff Topping / The National
Flydubai cancelled the launch of routes planned for 2024 and reduced capacity on others because of Boeing jet delivery delays and supply-chain problems. Jeff Topping / The National
Flydubai cancelled the launch of routes planned for 2024 and reduced capacity on others because of Boeing jet delivery delays and supply-chain problems. Jeff Topping / The National
Flydubai cancelled the launch of routes planned for 2024 and reduced capacity on others because of Boeing jet delivery delays and supply-chain problems. Jeff Topping / The National

Flydubai posts record profit for 2024 as it prepares to receive new Boeing planes


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  • Arabic

Flydubai reported a 5 per cent increase in its profit for 2024 as the airline continues to expand its fleet amid strong air travel demand.

The Dubai airline's annual profit grew to Dh2.2 billion ($611 million) last year, from Dh2.1 billion in 2023, and it achieved a "record" pre-tax profit of Dh2.5 billion for the year, a 16 per cent rise from the previous year, flydubai said on Monday.

Revenue increased more than 14 per cent cent to Dh12.8 billion, as the airline carried 15.4 million passengers from Dubai last year, an annual increase of 11 per cent.

Flydubai’s financial performance for the fourth consecutive year demonstrates the airline’s continued ability to navigate difficult economic and geopolitical challenges, said chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith.

Flydubai cancelled the launch of routes planned for the second half of last year and reduced capacity on others because of delays in jet deliveries from Boeing and supply-chain problems.

The airline said it did not receive any of the aircraft it was contractually scheduled to receive last year due to continuing challenges with the US plane maker's delivery schedule. As a result, flydubai extended the leases on four Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 planes that had been scheduled for return.

Flydubai said it expects to receive 12 new Boeing 737s this year and replace some of its existing aircraft to support its network expansion plans.

“Our strategic plans are highly influenced by the manufacturer’s ability to deliver on their promise to bring the aircraft delivery schedules back on track and clear the backlog,” Mr Al Ghaith said.

By the end of December, flydubai's fleet consisted of 88 planes, comprising 29 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800s, 56 of the 737 Max 8s, and three of the 737 Max 9s.

The airline’s capacity, measured in available seat kilometres, increased by 10 per cent in 2024, while load factor, the percentage of available seating capacity filled by passengers, grew 1.2 per cent.

Fuel accounted for 28 per cent of flydubai’s operating costs last year, compared to 32 per cent in 2023, due to a lower average fuel price.

Flydubai's results come after Dubai International Airport achieved a record-breaking 92.3 million passengers last year, growing 6 per cent annually and reinforcing Dubai's status as a leading international travel hub.

The world's busiest airport by international traffic beat its November forecast of 91.9 million annual passengers, up from 87 million the previous year and exceeding its pre-Covid record of 89.1 million in 2018.

The emirate attracted 16.79 million international tourists in the first 11 months of 2024, with western Europe its top source market, followed by South Asia and Gulf countries.

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Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
  • 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
  • 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
  • 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
The%20Afghan%20connection
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Jigra
Director: Vasan Bala
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Rated: 3.5/5
The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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
Company Profile:

Name: The Protein Bakeshop

Date of start: 2013

Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani

Based: Dubai

Size, number of employees: 12

Funding/investors:  $400,000 (2018) 

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The Details

Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5 

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital

Martin Sabbagh profile

Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East

In the role: Since January 2015

Lives: In the UAE

Background: M&A, investment banking

Studied: Corporate finance

Normcore explained

Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.

What is tokenisation?

Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets. 

Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?

Some facts about bees:

The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer

The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days

A queen bee lives for 3-5 years

This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony

About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive

Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.

Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen 

Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids

Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments

Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive,  protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts

Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain

Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities

The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes

Is beekeeping dangerous?

As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.

“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”

 

 

Updated: February 24, 2025, 12:24 PM`