A Flydubai 737 Max jet. The budget airline has 14 of the Boeing aircraft. Reuters.
A Flydubai 737 Max jet. The budget airline has 14 of the Boeing aircraft. Reuters.
A Flydubai 737 Max jet. The budget airline has 14 of the Boeing aircraft. Reuters.
A Flydubai 737 Max jet. The budget airline has 14 of the Boeing aircraft. Reuters.

Flydubai to resume 737 Max operations on April 8


Deena Kamel
  • English
  • Arabic

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.

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

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The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

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Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

UAE%20PREMIERSHIP
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What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

About Housecall

Date started: July 2020

Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: HealthTech

# of staff: 10

Funding to date: Self-funded

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Important questions to consider

1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?

There are different types of travel available for pets:

  • Manifest cargo
  • Excess luggage in the hold
  • Excess luggage in the cabin

Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.

 

2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?

If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.

If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.

 

3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?

As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.

If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty. 

If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport. 

 

4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?

This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.

In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.

 

5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?

Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.

Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.

Source: Pawsome Pets UAE

Kat Wightman's tips on how to create zones in large spaces

 

  • Area carpets or rugs are the easiest way to segregate spaces while also unifying them.
  • Lighting can help define areas. Try pendant lighting over dining tables, and side and floor lamps in living areas.
  • Keep the colour palette the same in a room, but combine different tones and textures in different zone. A common accent colour dotted throughout the space brings it together.
  • Don’t be afraid to use furniture to break up the space. For example, if you have a sofa placed in the middle of the room, a console unit behind it will give good punctuation.
  • Use a considered collection of prints and artworks that work together to form a cohesive journey.
Profile Idealz

Company: Idealz

Founded: January 2018

Based: Dubai

Sector: E-commerce

Size: (employees): 22

Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now