Flydubai will resume Boeing 737 Max passenger flights on April 8, after the UAE lifted a 23-month safety ban on the jet in February, the airline said on Sunday.
The airline has complied with the UAE’s aviation regulator's safety requirements to ensure a safe return to service, the company said yesterday.
“The Max is integral to flydubai’s fleet and we are confident in the aircraft and its capabilities,” said chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith.
The airline is one of the world’s biggest customers of the industry workhorse.
The UAE joins Canada, the US, Brazil and Europe in approving the plane’s return to commercial service.
The jet was grounded worldwide in March 2019 after two crashes in five months that killed 346 people.
Flydubai’s first 737 Max flight will be to Sialkot in Punjab, Pakistan, on April 8.
The airline will also operate the jets on a number of routes in the coming weeks, said chief commercial officer Hamad Obaidalla.
Flydubai has a fleet of 14 Boeing 737 Max aircraft. Four of its Max 8 variants and one of the larger Max 9s have received regulatory approval to rejoin its fleet.
The remaining jets are scheduled to resume passenger flights in the coming months, the airline said.
Passengers will be notified in advance if their flight involves a 737 Max jet, flydubai said.
The General Civil Aviation Authority, the UAE’s aviation regulator, approved each jet's return to service after ensuring compliance with a set of safety rules.
Flydubai said it “met and exceeded” the stringent requirements set out by the US Federal Aviation Administration, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the GCAA.
These include software enhancements, a wire separation modification, additional pilot training and thorough aircraft reactivation activities.
On March 29, Boeing won a new order for 100 Max jets from Texas-based Southwest Airlines, its biggest sale since the US lifted the ban on the aircraft in November 2020.
A day later, the US manufacturer also struck a deal with Alaska Airlines for an additional 23 Max 9 jets.
On March 12, Miami-based private investment firm 777 Partners agreed to add 24 Max 8 planes to its portfolio.
The string of deals underscores growing confidence in the jet after it was grounded for about two years.
Boeing has been trying to rebuild confidence and trust with its passengers and airline customers after the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.
The latest orders will provide a vital cash injection after the Chicago-based plane maker ended 2020 with a record annual loss of $11.9bn.
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
Naga
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Company Profile
Company name: NutriCal
Started: 2019
Founder: Soniya Ashar
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food Technology
Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount
Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia
Total Clients: Over 50
HOW DO SIM CARD SCAMS WORK?
Sim swap frauds are a form of identity theft.
They involve criminals conning mobile phone operators into issuing them with replacement Sim cards, often by claiming their phone has been lost or stolen
They use the victim's personal details - obtained through criminal methods - to convince such companies of their identity.
The criminal can then access any online service that requires security codes to be sent to a user's mobile phone, such as banking services.
How to increase your savings
- Have a plan for your savings.
- Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
- Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
- It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings.
- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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