Flydubai looks to rebuild network in former Yugoslavia


Flydubai resumed operations to the former Yugoslavia earlier this month with services to Belgrade and Sarajevo. The airline plans rebuild its network in the region when all necessary conditions are met. Speaking to EX-YU Aviation News, Flydubai’s Senior Vice President for Commercial Operations, Jeyhun Efendi, said, “We were pleased that when we resumed scheduled operations, we were able to offer three flights a week from Belgrade from July 9. In addition, we have seen three flights a week to Sarajevo start from July 10. We should recognise the fact that each country across our network is at different stages of their response to the pandemic and we will continue to add destinations as they are able to open up. All relevant stakeholders are making every effort to enable more destinations to join the Flydubai network. There are many factors that need to be considered and we are keen to grow the network as quickly and as safely as possible”.

At this point, the carrier has brought forward its resumption of flights to Skopje, which are now due to start twice per week from September 3. Seasonal operations to Dubrovnik have been cancelled for the rest of the year, while there will be a total of two flights to Tivat, scheduled on July 30 and August 7. Currently, the airline plans to increase its service to Belgrade to daily flights from September 1, while operations to Sarajevo will grow to four weekly from the same date. These plans are all subject to change. Commenting on its winter operations to Zagreb, Mr Efendi noted, “For now, it is in our intention to operate flights to Zagreb for the winter schedule, but we will make an assessment closer to the time”.

The majority of passengers currently traveling with Flydubai are those going point-to-point, rather than transferring via Dubai. “Most of our passengers are travelling point-to-point, whether they are residents returning to Dubai or those travelling for their summer holidays. We have also begun to welcome tourists to Dubai. We are working closely with our travel partners across the industry to help re-establish opportunities for travel and tourism”. He added, “Flight restrictions were lifted by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on July 7 which saw the resumption of our scheduled services. We were pleased to welcome our first tourists to Dubai, who arrived on a flight from Kiev. During the period that flight restrictions were in place, our teams were working hard to redesign the entire passenger journey and build upon the existing high standards of our operations to minimise the risk of the transmission of Covid-19. We have carefully reviewed the guidance and best practices published by a number of international organisations together with those of our regulator and our industry partners. This is a recognition that the way in which passengers travel has changed and that these protocols set out the new way of travelling”. Dubai has reopened for tourists, with nationals from the former Yugoslavia free to enter the Emirate. Passengers in Dubai are tested for the coronavirus upon arrival with their results processed within 48 hours.


During the height of the global lockdowns, Flydubai operated a number of repatriation flights to markets in the former Yugoslavia, as well as cargo-only operations, carrying medical aid and supplies. Such flights were operated to Belgrade, Zagreb and Podgorica. “During the suspension of our operations, Flydubai’s focus was on supporting government requests with repatriation flights, helping more than 78.000 passengers return to their homes including those across the Balkans. We also focused on enabling the movement of essential goods across our network and beyond with our cargo division, which has, at this point, operated 1.300 cargo flights since March 2020, carrying 7.458.117 kilograms of cargo to 41 destinations”, Mr Efendi said. He concluded, “At the moment, we are seeing a mix of scheduled flights as demand for travel grows, repatriation flights as we continue to enable citizens to return home and support the need for additional cargo”.

Comments

  1. Anonymous08:29

    Great to hear that they plan to come back to Skopje.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous08:36

      If they start in September like they plan to, they could get an upper hand against Qatar that doesn't plan to start fights till late October.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous08:38

      Are they after the same passengers though?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous08:41

      I do not know how much demand has recovered, the latest flight from SKP to DTM had 60 passengers onboard. If a gasto destination is so weak how can we expect Dubai or Doha to perform better? Even LO cancelled OHD. It's still not the time for adventures.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous08:47

      Travel restrictions are the main problem and the main deterrent for demand. In these situations, it is gasto passengers who will be the last to give up on visiting home.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous08:32

    Wait, I don't get it, does it mean they still haven't decided if ZAG is coming back or not this winter? Ouch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous08:33

      Seems like it

      “For now, it is in our intention to operate flights to Zagreb for the winter schedule, but we will make an assessment closer to the time”.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous08:44

      It's crazy how in a really short period ZAG lost a prestigious link with EK and now it might lose a glorified Wizz Air airline. Management needs to wake up as obviously the market is not problem.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:01

      It's not crazy, even Budapest might not get to keep its EK flights. It's tragic how one portion of bat soup has brought down giants such as EK or even BUD.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:14

      If they don't resume ZAG then QR will take over the market.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:18

      But it is not only losing EK problem here. The bigger mystery is why FZ is not sure about returning to ZAG!

      So from 5pw B777 ZAG gets to no EK and no FZ flights. It means no direct connection to DXB and it was the biggest airport ZAG was directly connected to.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:23

      I remember reading an interview here from maybe 2 years ago and I beleive it was with the same gentlaen as the one cited in the article. He said at the time that they did not suspend ZAG flights at the time to make way for Emirates and that it was an unrelated decision. So obviously either the yields or loads don't work for them.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:24

      Well yeah 80% of loads dont work for them.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous09:30

      "Management needs to wake up as obviously the market is not problem."

      Say that to the every airline on this world which has fall of at least 90% in terms of revenue and numbers of passanger. So obviously is problem in them, not in a quarantine rules, travel restrictions and higher unemployment.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous09:31

      If the airport is expensive and the flight is long perhaps it does not.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous09:31

      "no FZ flights"

      You never had FZ flights in this time of the year so you cannot say just like that "no FZ flights".

      Delete
    11. Anonymous09:44

      Never?

      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2014/07/flydubai-schedules-zagreb-and-sarajevo.html
      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2015/07/flydubai-satisfied-with-ex-yu.html

      Delete
    12. Anonymous09:49

      Didn't FZ launch ZAG quite late compared to other destinations in the region?

      Delete
    13. Anonymous09:54

      Yes and they flew to ZAG from winter 2014 until winter 2016

      Delete
    14. Anonymous09:57

      FZ and EK are NOT THE SAME COMPANIES!!!!! EK cannot force FZ to operate flights which they dont want because FZ has planes with smaller capacity. EK cannot make decisions in FZ or control FZ management. For this year as for 2 previous years, FZ did not operated summer flights to ZAG that was a job of EK because they made a deal around ZAG operations. FZ operated winter flights and it will do it and in the next winter season.

      Delete
    15. Anonymous10:38

      From "never" we came to "previous 2 years". Progress.


      "FZ operated winter flights and it will do it and in the next winter season."

      It is amazing that Senior Vice President for Commercial Operations in FlyDubai is not sure about FZ flights to ZAG next winter, but this anonymous knows it.

      Delete
    16. Anonymous12:05

      You are right, I am sorry. I was wrong.

      Delete
    17. Anonymous12:18

      You are Anon 12:05
      I who wrote post Anon 09:57 and I dont think that Im wrong.
      I really dont know will they operate these flights, but lets be honest, nobody knows what will happen with this virus, are we going to have a new wawe in October or something else. So in reality all predictions are wrong when you dont know what will happen. But I still think if everything will be fine, we will see FZ in ZAG.

      And yes Flydubai operated summer flights between 2014. and 2016. but after that they just operated winter flights so you cannont just like that say "they didnt resume flights to ZAG but they do to SJJ and BEG" if last year they operated flights to BEG and SJJ all year while flights to ZAG were just during winter.

      Delete
    18. Anonymous12:25

      Where do you see anyone, except you, mentioned here BEG and SJJ?

      Delete
    19. Anonymous13:01

      No one did but he has to make things up because he has no good argument.

      Delete
    20. Anonymous13:18

      @anon 13:01

      +100

      Delete
  3. Anonymous08:37

    No Ljubljana? :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous08:43

      LJU management is preparing for a second decade of negotiations.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous08:50

      ^ i don't think you're far away from the truth.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous08:51

      @anon 08:37 and 08:43

      You made my day :)

      Delete
  4. Anonymous08:42

    Hopefully the MAX will be back by the winter season. I flown with it once on FZ and the product was top notch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous08:45

      +1 huge difference compared to the current B737-800.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous08:50

      No thanks, I wouldn't fly on that flying coffin. I don't trust Boeing, they have made too many safety cuts in favor of boosting their profits and bonuses. I'd rather fly via IST on TK and enjoy a fantastic five star service.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous08:52

      TK's fantastic five star service now consists of a bottle of water in business and economy.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous08:56

      This too shall pass. Once the virus is no more TK will resume with its top notch service.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:01

      Most airlines have not suspended their full on board service. TK probably takes the prize for the biggest cuts. So don't expect TK to go back to the way it was as what they are doing now is simply cost cutting.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:03

      As far as in aware TK also has MAX planes in its fkeet and scheduled them on many ex-Yu flights.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:15

      Anon 09:03
      +1
      If you are flying within Europe and want to avoid the MAX then over the next few years you have to avoid flying FR and TK.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous09:33

      MAX will be the most tested aircraft in the history of aviation. I don't see a problem flying on it once it's back. But I would prefer A321Neo of TK of course.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous09:42

      ^ true

      Delete
    10. Anonymous09:50

      Yeah they said the same for MAX before the two crashes. No thanks.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous11:03

      No one is forcing you but you will have to avoid many airlines in the future.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous11:11

      I won't be the only one. FR said that they are thinking of removing the MAX mention because of the disasters related to this highly unpredictable product.

      Delete
    13. JATBEGMEL15:53

      FR has said many things in the past. I doubt they will dump their large order for the MAX near first deliveries only to be put on a waiting list for the A320neo.

      Delete
    14. Anonymous16:57

      Huh? Who said about dumping the MAX, they want to avoid using the name because people associate it with those multiple disasters which killed hundreds of innocent people.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous08:49

    Unfortubate about Dubrovnik. It was in the schedule just a couple of days ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous08:50

      * unfortunate

      Delete
    2. Anonymous08:54

      It makes sense. I'm guessing the majority of passengers on FZ's flights to Dubrovnik were tourists from Asia and Australia.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:20

      But how is it possible FZ to fly from TIV and not from DBV?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:28

      it has just 2 flights sheduled for the entire summer.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:41

      I wonder what's the point.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous11:09

      Repatriation?

      Delete
    7. Anonymous11:10

      Or maybe there is a group of tourists.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous08:58

    i really hope they don't suspend ZAG.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:15

      they haven't decided yet. But it's on ice.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:51

      Thin ice

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:05

    Good, I'm glad to see them back. Also excellent news for Sarajevo. One of the few carriers that has returned at this point.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous09:11

    What's the return ticket price now from the region to Dubai?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:19

      Prices fluctuate but they are at the same level as last year.

      Delete
    2. JATBEGMEL16:09

      The prices have gone down alot lately. There were flights being sold at over 1000 EUR one way, flights being cancelled while FZ refuses to refund tickets, offering only vouchers. There were appeals to the Serbian Embassy in Abu Dhabi to have JU operate repatriation flights, for which a few operated to AUH and DXB.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:12

    Excellent!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous09:15

    Wizzair Abu Dhabi now code 5W will destroy FZ in UAE when it begins expanding. The Balkan capitals will be connected and more people will fly with them. Current rates from UAE to Egypt are 20€! If 5W expand it will be the end of FZ in the region.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:27

      i don't see Wizz Abu Dhabi launching any ex-Yu city in the near future.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:38

      I actually see SJJ as the most potential candidate. There was always huge demand from/to the MENA region. Others can be INI and LJU.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:39

      SKP too possibly. They could beat QR and FZ.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:43

      Wizz is not a transfer carrier like QR and FZ are. Qatar mostly depends on transfers while FZ has great partnership with EK and offers great connections. I really dont see how it is possible that Wizz can beat QR and FZ.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:04

      Transfer traffic is actually in decline. More and more cities are being connected. The A350 and Dreamliner proved it. Even SYD will be connected with Europe in 3 years time.
      W6 is also ordering the A321LR and will most likely do long-haul.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:16

      It is true that in the future you will have more direct long haul flights and QR which relies mostly on transfers will be history, but in a near future there is no possibility of Wizz destroying QR and FZ just on basis of lower tickets prices. If Wizz for a year or two launches operations from AUH to the region, they will not destroy QR or FZ at all, especialy not QR who is not based on profits but on govetments money so they can without any problems survive and 1 billion $ losses.

      But its true that Qatar Airways and DOH will become history in the future. Same happend with Manama, Karachi, Tehran, Iran Air and PIA...

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:20

      ^ Doha is hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2 years.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous12:07

      Nonsense. DOH and QR are not going anywhere because they are well run. So what if Manama or Karachi failed? Btw Tehran was never a transfer hub. Look at FRA, SIN, HKG, ATL... who for decades survived and grew thanks to transfer passengers.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous12:23

      QR is well run?

      Delete
    10. Anonymous12:43

      It is funny how some argument wth prognoses of what might happen in a 3 years time, and yet this pandemic that literally happened out of nowhere shook everything to its core, and especially the aviation industry, so anon 10:04, I suggest you stick to the present and the more near future.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous13:08

      Anon 12.23 are you implying they are a badly run business???

      Delete
    12. Anonymous14:22

      12:43 so you are actually denying that the transit traffic is in decline? Forget about QF and focus on the present you too.
      Less and less people do transfers in Europe and more and more flights are connected to the Americas or the Northern Hemisphere.Also don't forget about the A220 which has a huge range so we will be seeing more O&D traffic in the future.

      Delete
    13. Anonymous14:24

      Yes that business is so lucrative that DY almost went bankrupt. Transfer passengers will always remain because non-stop flights can't offer the convenience and flexibility a hub can.

      Delete
    14. JATBEGMEL16:23

      @ 09,15

      Wizz wont affect FZ in the exYU region as much as a reduced EK network will. Its not about lauching flights with low fares and masses will come, which is what we currently see with the routes Wizz launched out of BEG recently. Take into consideration that HBE is around 3 hours flight time while exYU airports are 5-6 hours. You are not going to see 20 EUR fares UAE-exYU.

      @10,04

      There will always be some form of demand for transfer traffic, just the connecting points may increase/change. The largest of airlines cant connect all points of the globe. It will be interesting to watch what happens when this crisis is over and to watch how airlines/hubs rebound.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:22

    Belgrade goes to daily from September!

    Great news!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:26

      It's possible they may change their mind but it's scheduled that way for now

      Interestingly QR goes 10 weekly to BEG from SEP 1.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:45

    Big decrease from last year but it is still a start.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous12:07

    No LJU? I cannot believe it ... but they 'try so hard' :o

    ReplyDelete

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