Ghaith Al Ghaith says flydubai is eyeing an order of 100 or more jets as the carrier looks to revamp its fleet in the future. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Ghaith Al Ghaith says flydubai is eyeing an order of 100 or more jets as the carrier looks to revamp its fleet in the future. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Ghaith Al Ghaith says flydubai is eyeing an order of 100 or more jets as the carrier looks to revamp its fleet in the future. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Ghaith Al Ghaith says flydubai is eyeing an order of 100 or more jets as the carrier looks to revamp its fleet in the future. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Exclusive: Flydubai eyeing multibillion dollar 100-plus passenger jet order, chief executive says


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Low-cost carrier Flydubai is in multibillion dollar talks to buy “at least 100” new passenger jets in the coming months as it looks to renew its current book set to expire in 2023, the airline’s chief executive said.

"We are definitely in the market for a new order," flydubai chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith said in an interview with The National at Dubai Air Show. "We are generally always in talks with [Boeing and Airbus] and we are in intense talks with them now."

The Dubai-based airline, which entered into an expanded codeshare agreement with Emirates in July, is looking at potentially a bigger model of aircraft than its current fleet of mainly Boeing 737-800s as it reviews its aircraft. The top end of the 737 family is the 737 Max 10 which cost $124.7 at list prices. A popular model with other budget carriers is the 737 Max 8 which is priced at $112.4 million.

“For us, we change aircraft every eight years and we have an order book now of 100," Mr Al Ghaith said. That order book expires in 2023 so we are now in the market to ensure we do something for beyond that. But we are not in a rush.”

Flydubai is “looking for similar aircraft [to what it has]- maybe even a little bigger,” he said. “For example, if you look at the Boeing family, there is the 800, the 900 and the 1000, and on the Airbus side, we have the A320, the A321 and the Max. All of these aircraft are options.”

It's unlikely that flydubai would have a mix of both Airbus and Boeing aircraft in its fleet as the operating cost would increase.

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“I’m sure our next order will be more than 100, for sure," Mr Al Gaith said. "We are not in a rush, but of course I would love to have signed a deal at this air show.” When asked if this was not going to happen, he responded, “I don’t think so,” and said around the end of the year was more feasible.

The partnership with Emirates, under which the two Dubai-based carriers are expanding their shared network to reduce route duplication and achieve efficiencies, is “going very well – we have managed to improve connectivity between the two airlines from three hours to two hours and have launched over 40 new routes on the codeshare,” he said.

The 2017-18 operating year will be “as challenging as last year” for flydubai, which reported widening losses in August. The airline recorded a loss of Dh142.5 million for the first six months to the end of June, compared with a loss of Dh89.9m for the same period in 2016. Flydubai reported a 69 per cent decline in its earnings in 2016 because of the challenging operating environment.

“Our second half of the year is always better than the first half and we are on trend with that,” he said. “I think this year will be as challenging as last, nothing much has changed, even though fuel prices have gone up to $60 per barrel.”

In the long term the “oil price is going in the right direction” to help regional airlines recover after a tough period, he said.

Flydubai intends to open “a handful” of new routes within the next two months, Mr Al Ghaith said, adding that Eastern Europe was a key growth opportunity for the airline. “Some of these routes will be driven by the relationship with Emirates.”

A merger with Emirates is out of the question.

“I personally don’t see that because each airline has its own identity and we work on areas of collaboration, of which there are plenty of course,” he said.

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  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
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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.

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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.

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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company

The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.

He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.

“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.

“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.

HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon. 

With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.

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  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
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Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

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Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

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