Flydubai has cancelled the launch of routes planned for the second half of this year and reduced capacity on some others because of jet delivery delays at Boeing and supply chain problems, its chief executive has said.
The Dubai-based airline also temporarily suspended its flight schedule to Pisa in Italy from October to March 2025 to mitigate the impact on busy travel periods.
Flydubai cancelled its routes to Riga in Latvia, Tallinn in Estonia and Vilnius in Lithuania that were scheduled to start in October, despite a solid performance in the first six months of the year, chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith told The National on Monday.
Unfortunately, there will be no further route launches this year
Ghaith Al Ghaith,
chief executive, Flydubai
The all-Boeing fleet operator said in July that its growth plans have been "stunted" after it received an update from the US manufacturer that it would not receive any more planes this year, creating a capacity shortage during a period of strong demand.
The airline then had to examine the knock-on effect on its new routes and flight frequencies on existing destinations as a result, Mr Al Ghaith said at the time.
"Flydubai had another strong performance for the first half of 2024, and we have seen very strong demand for travel this summer as well. We are pleased to see a successful start of operations to our newest destination in Europe, with the launch of direct flights to Basel earlier this month. Unfortunately, there will be no further route launches this year," Mr Al Ghaith said on Monday.
"The airline had recently revised its flight schedule due to ongoing delays in aircraft delivery schedules and supply chain disruptions. To mitigate the impact during the busy travel periods, we have cancelled our upcoming route launches in the Baltic that were planned for October."
In December, Boeing told flydubai that it will deliver 12 planes in 2024. That included four that were delayed from 2023.
In March, the airline was informed it will receive only eight of the 12 planes.
In July, Boeing told flydubai that it will not receive any additional aircraft beyond the four already delivered this year.
"We are doing everything we can to reduce the impact of the schedule changes on our customers without having to resort back to wet leasing additional aircraft. This remains an option to explore for the future if we have to," Mr Al Ghaith said.
"In line with these developments, we are in touch with our customers and travel partners regarding their refund or rebooking options."
Flydubai advised customers whose flights have been affected to visit its website or call the flydubai contact centre, the flydubai travel store or their travel agent.
"We apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers’ travel schedules," Mr Al Ghaith said.
The flydubai chief joins a growing chorus of aviation leaders expressing frustrations about continuing aircraft delays. This comes as Boeing struggles with a safety and quality crisis, which was caused by a panel falling off a 737 Max jet in mid-air in January. Its rival Airbus is also struggling to reach production output goals.
Etihad Airways' chief executive Antonoaldo Neves this month said that when he meets Boeing's new chief executive Kelly Ortberg “sooner or later”, he will have one main request for the new leader of the company.
“When I meet him and I ask him one thing, it's going to be: 'please deliver my planes on time'”, Mr Neves said in an interview this month.
Mr Ortberg has pledged to “restore trust” in the embattled US aerospace company when he officially took charge on August 8.
Delays in delivering planes have hobbled global airlines' efforts to fully capitalise on the post-pandemic surge in air travel demand.
In July, Boeing's chief of commercial jets Stephanie Pope said the company had disappointed its customers but it was making transformational and systemic changes based on feedback from its employees, airlines and regulators.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
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
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
RACE RESULTS
1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1hr 21min 48.527sec
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 0.658sec
3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 6.012
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 7.430
5. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) 20.370
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:13.160
7. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Force India) 1 lap
8. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1 lap
9. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1 lap
10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1 lap
11. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) 1 lap
12. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) 1 lap
13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 1 lap
14. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) 1 lap
15. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 2 laps
16. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 3 laps