Flydubai posts record profit for 2024 as it prepares to receive new Boeing planes

Flydubai reported a 5% increase in its profit for 2024 as the airline continues to expand its fleet amid strong air travel demand. The Dubai airline's annual profit grew to Dh2.2b ($611m) last year, from Dh2.1b in 2023, and it achieved a "record" pre-tax profit of Dh2.5b for the year, a 16% rise from the previous year, flydubai said on Monday. Revenue increased more than 14% cent to Dh12.8b, as the airline carried 15.4m passengers from Dubai last year, an annual increase of 11%. Flydubai’s financial performance for the fourth consecutive year demonstrates the airline’s continued ability to navigate difficult economic and geopolitical challenges, said CE Ghaith Al Ghaith. Flydubai cancelled the launch of routes planned for the second half of last year and reduced capacity on others because of delays in jet deliveries from Boeing and supply-chain problems. The airline said it did not receive any of the aircraft it was contractually scheduled to receive last year due to continuing challenges with the US plane maker's delivery schedule. As a result, flydubai extended the leases on four Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 planes that had been scheduled for return. Flydubai said it expects to receive 12 new Boeing 737s this year and replace some of its existing aircraft to support its network expansion plans.<br/>