Flydubai, a Dubai-based low-cost carrier, has announced the cancellation of its planned route launches to Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius, citing delays in aircraft deliveries from Boeing. The airline had intended to begin its first routes to the Baltic region in October, with nonstop service from Dubai International Airport to the capitals of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. However, due to the ongoing delays in aircraft deliveries, Flydubai has been forced to cancel these planned launches.
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The airline had announced its plans to launch these routes in May, alongside a new service to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, which began on August 2. At the time of the announcement, Jeyhun Efendi, Flydubai's senior vice president for commercial operations and e-commerce, had said that the airline had already seen "strong demand" ahead of the proposed launches. However, Boeing was set to deliver 14 737-8 aircraft in 2024, but Flydubai confirmed on July 22 that it would not receive any new aircraft for the rest of the year. This has led to the cancellation of the planned Baltic route launches.
Commenting on the ongoing delays, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at Flydubai, said: "We are extremely disappointed to learn that Boeing will not be able to fulfill its commitment to deliver more aircraft for the remainder of the year. The unpredictability of the aircraft delivery schedules from Boeing over the past few years has put significant pressure on the carrier and its ability to firmly plan for its projected growth, especially as it geared up to meet the strong demand for travel after the pandemic." To mitigate the delays in aircraft deliveries and to meet the surge in demand for travel and add capacity, particularly during peak travel periods, Flydubai had to enter Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance (ACMI) agreements. The carrier has also extended the lease on some of the aircraft that were scheduled to be returned to the lessors under its Sale and Leaseback agreements, which has led to the airline incurring further costs.
In addition to these measures, Flydubai has invested in an extensive retrofit program for its fleet of Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft to ensure a more consistent onboard experience for its passengers and to align the cabin product in the absence of new aircraft joining the fleet for the remainder of the year. With six new routes scheduled to launch over the next few months, the airline is currently reviewing its schedule and frequency of operations across its network due to restrictions in aircraft availability. Over its 15 years of operations, Flydubai has emerged as one of the key players in the aviation industry in the UAE and the region, building a strong diverse network and opening up underserved markets. Flydubai is the largest operator of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in the Middle East and GCC and its growing fleet has supported its ambitious growth plans over the years. While Flydubai's plans to expand its network to the Baltic region have been thwarted by Boeing's delivery delays, the airline remains committed to providing its passengers with high-quality service and a wide range of travel options.