Earlier this week, I flew with Flydubai to Dubai. It was my first flight with the airline since it transitioned from a hybrid to a full service model, as well as my first visit to Dubai during the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. Flydubai currently operates two daily flights between Belgrade and Dubai, slightly fewer than the seventeen weekly services maintained before the war. Nevertheless, the schedule remains very practical, with both afternoon and evening departures from Belgrade. Fares have definitely increased, rising by around 100 euros compared to before the war. Before the flight, I paid for an exit row seat and preordered a vegetarian meal.

The inbound flight from Dubai arrived in Belgrade ahead of schedule, so I was confident that we would depart on time, which we did.

I was interested to see what the load factor would be. Demand for travel to Dubai has fallen sharply due to the war in Iran, something that can also be felt in the city’s streets, shopping malls and hotels, which are noticeably quieter. Personally, I find it much more pleasant than the crowds of the past, while rooms at luxury hotels can currently be found at bargain prices. Flydubai’s Belgrade flights were often packed before the war. On this particular Tuesday service, I would estimate the load factor was around 50%, which was better than I had expected. However, it should be kept in mind that another flight to Dubai was scheduled later that evening and that summer is already the low season in Dubai, in addition to the impact of the war.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was in excellent condition. The seats looked new and the entertainment screens were large. Nobody was seated next to me, and the additional legroom in the exit row was appreciated. Compared to Flydubai’s previous hybrid model, the screens are now unlocked, every passenger receives headphones and a full meal service is provided. Also, the meals have been seriously upgraded compared to the complimentary meals Emirates ticket holders used to get on Flydubai flights. The service began shortly after our on time departure.

Each passenger received a tray containing a main course, salad and dessert. As mentioned, I had preordered a vegetarian meal, while the standard choices were beef or chicken. The meal was good and the portion was quite generous for an economy class flight. Every passenger also received a bottle of water. Interestingly, it was Serbia’s “Voda Voda” brand, and I wondered whether it had been loaded in Belgrade or Dubai, since it is widely available across the Middle East as well.

The crew were very pleasant and passed through the cabin several times to ask whether anyone wanted additional drinks. Complimentary entertainment was another major plus and helped the flight pass quickly. There was a plentiful selection of films and television shows. The only thing missing was WiFi, although, if I remember correctly, the airline is in the process of installing Starlink.

Although we departed on time, we landed around forty minutes late because we followed a longer route. This involved flying further into Saudi Arabia before turning towards Dubai, whereas most services over the following few days approached the city from over the sea which cuts flight time.

Overall, it was a very good flight and, in my opinion, Flydubai has definitely stepped up its game compared to just a few months ago. I recently read that the airline has launched flights to Bangkok and, following this experience, I would be tempted to fly with them to Thailand if the fares are competitive.