Flydubai: Announced that it posted annual profit of operation

The carrier said it posted a net profit of Dh151.9 million($41.4m) in 2012, as it carried 5.1 million passengers through its rapidly expanding network. The airline also reported revenue of Dh2.7bn at an announcement led by the company’s chairman H. H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who praised the fast-growing airline. He added that “In its short history, flydubai has firmly established its place in the region. It has opened up new markets, contributed to increased tourism in Dubai and made a major contribution to the growth and connectivity of Dubai’s aviation hub.” Since its launch in June 2009, the airline has carried 10.4 million passengers and is now the second largest carrier, by passenger numbers, operating out of Dubai International. In the past two years the carrier has more than doubled the number of destinations it flies to – from 25 to 52 – across its network in the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe. Sheikh Ahmed noted that Flydubai has launched 31 routes that either did not previously have direct links with Dubai or were not served by an UAE national carrier from Dubai. Among the nine new destinations launched in 2012 were Baghdad, Bucharest, Sana’a and Taif. The airline ordered 50 Boeing 737-800 aircraft before its first flight and plans to receive the full order by 2016. With 28 aircraft currently in operation, the airline has plans to place more orders soon. “We’re looking at placing an order for an additional 50 aircraft and we are in talks with Airbus and Boeing who will compete for the transaction,” said Sheikh Ahmed. “We hope to make an announcement at the Dubai Airshow.” The airline is looking at Boeing 737s and Airbus 320 models, he said. In 2013, the airline will take delivery of six new aircraft to meet demand on busy routes and enable it to reach new destinations. Since the beginning of the year two new routes: Mal? in the Maldives and Ha’il in Saudi Arabia have joined Flydubai’s network. Multan and Sialkot in Pakistan will commence in March.