More passengers lift flydubai revenue to Dh2.3b

Flydubai passenger numbers grew 16.5 per cent year-on-year to 4.9 million

Revenues of budget air carrier flydubai rose 5.4 per cent to Dh2.302 billion in the first six months of this year, on higher passenger traffic on the back of new routes.
Losses shrunk to 39 per cent year-on-year to Dh89.9 million. In the first six months of last year, flydubai had reported Dh147.4 million losses due to lower Russian demand.
Lower fuel prices, together with a reduction in its hedging position from 41 per cent last year to 22 per cent this year, saw fuel account for 23.5 per cent of total operating cost down from 30.6 per cent last year, the airlines said.
"We have seen continued pressure on yields due to the uncertain international economic situation set against a backdrop of lower oil prices and adverse currency exchange rates. We maintain a sharp focus on cost improvement while pursuing our broader goal of expanding our network and our service offering," flydubai CFO Mukesh Sodani said in a statement.
The airline reported that passenger numbers grew 16.5 per cent year-on-year to 4.9 million. The number of business class passengers carried per departure saw an increase of 19 per cent.
In the first half, flydubai has seen an increase in the flight frequency to existing destinations on its network including Bahrain, Baku, Belgrade, Bucharest, Muscat and Salalah as it grows the demand for travel and passengers recognise the benefits of direct air links.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, chief executive officer of flydubai said: "Flydubai's network continues to mature offering our passengers enhanced connectivity as we meet the growing demand for travel in the region." Flydubai has received positive feedback from its passengers about its services from Al Maktoum International.
- haseeb@khaleejtimes.com