 |
| No small ambition - Flydubai speaks to EX-YU Aviation News |
Four years after launching flights to the former Yugoslavia, the Dubai-based hybrid carrier Flydubai says it is satisfied with its performance on the market, noting it is holding up well against rivals such as Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, which are also present in the region. Speaking to EX-YU Aviation News, Flydubai’s Senior Commercial Vice President, Jeyhun Efendi, says the Serbian, Macedonian, Croatian and Bosnian markets form an essential part of the airline’s strategy. “This is an important market for Flydubai. We have been flying there since 2011 when we began our flights to Belgrade and in 2012 we launched flights to Skopje. We commenced services to Zagreb and Sarajevo in December 2014. Demand for these routes remain strong as passengers are able to travel to Dubai and beyond through its efficient aviation hub, offering links to 264 points around the world”, Mr Efendi says.
Flydubai faces direct competition from two Middle Eastern rivals - Qatar Airways, which operates daily services to both Zagreb and Belgrade, and Etihad Airways, which also maintains daily flights to Belgrade and is a stakeholder in Air Serbia. Despite the competition, Mr Efendi tells EX-YU Aviation News the three carriers have different strategies on the market. “Even before the airline launched in 2009, we aimed to do things differently. Being based in Dubai set a benchmark as well as having the opportunity to benefit from the developments that have transformed the emirate into a global travel hub. As the only direct link to Dubai from destinations such as Zagreb and Sarajevo, we remain focused on our strategy of offering something different to our passengers and opening up previously underserved markets”.
The hybrid airline is expanding rapidly. Only last year it added 23 new routes to its network, among which were the Croatian and Bosnian capitals. The carrier’s Senior Commercial Vice President says the two routes are performing well so far. “We have seen a strong demand for flights from Zagreb and Sarajevo and we remain committed to providing passengers with flexible and convenient travel options. This includes our business class, which is available on flights from the two cities. The routes have also provided those from the Middle East, GCC [Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman] and beyond our network with easier access to discover this part of the world”. Flydubai plans to increase its presence in the former Yugoslavia this coming winter season. From October 25, the airline will operate an additional weekly service from Dubai to the Serbian and Croatian capital cities for a total of four weekly flights. Furthermore, it will run an additional weekly service to Sarajevo, compared to last winter season, for a total of three weekly flights. On the other hand, it will maintain two weekly services to Skopje during the winter.
Last month, one of the world’s largest carriers, the Dubai-based Emirates, said the former Yugoslav market is well connected by Flydubai, adding that “there are currently no concrete plans to fly to these cities”. It added, “In these markets, we cooperate closely with Flydubai, which has expanded rapidly in the region”. Flydubai was founded by the government of Dubai but is not an Emirates subsidiary, although the two cooperate closely. The hybrid airline captures a significant number of diaspora passengers from Australia and New Zealand heading to the former Yugoslavia, who are able to purchase a single Emirates ticket from their home cities and transit to their final destination via Dubai.
Further expansion in the region is possible. Flydubai is now setting its sights on all countries located within six hours of Dubai. It already flies to 57 destinations served by no other airline from the United Arab Emirates. The carrier has launched and announced sixteen new routes in 2015 and more are to come next year. The airline’s CEO, Kenneth Gile, says, “Our strategy is based on two aspects - basically bring the aircraft on and max the market up. The target is to add new aircraft and new cities”. He concludes, “If you look at where we can travel, within a six-hour radius from Dubai, there is a minimum of 2.5 billion people, which could soon reach three billion. From when we started, we have only carried about 1% of those people so even if we get it up to 2 or 3%, it is an unbelievable market size”.
I wish they started flying to Ljubljana but I doubt that's possible with them flying to Zagreb. Thanks for the article very interesting.
ReplyDeleteAgree, it would be great seeing them flying to LJU. And with the new management at LJU this might become reality. Even more so due to the fact that a lot of their customers from ZAG are Slovenians. In the long term maybe ZAG 3x weekly and LJU 2x weekly might work.
DeleteI think Pristina might be first up for them in ex-yu
DeleteDubrovnik is also a possibility.
DeleteSo is Split
DeleteNiš is a bigger priority.
DeleteNiš? Who the hell flies east from Niš?
DeleteMe and my family actually would fly from Australia to Niš over Belgrade any day. Obviously there's no way this line would ever materialise but saying "who the hell flies eat from Niš?", really? The person was clearly making a joke.
DeleteThey are doing really well in Belgrade too. With Etihad and Qatar I thought they would be the first to be run out but their combination with Emirates plus a lot of P2P passengers have made them popular.
ReplyDeleteI agree but they have done a lot of promotion since those two came. They introduced business class, offer free entertainment on these flights, have promotions for children to travel for free etc. I just wonder if they are making money on these flights.
DeleteDoes anyone remember Air Arabia which use to fly to Tuzla and Pristina? :D both lasted for two weeks or less
ReplyDeleteI wonder what their rationale was behind those flights. It was Dubai - Tuzla and Sharjah - Pristina id I am correct.
DeleteG9 flew to PRN for a single month and had a total of 4 rotations averaging just over 100 pax per flight. Considering that their fleet consists of 162/168 seat aircraft plus they operated during December, pax numbers were not disastrous but yields must have been low. The fact that they flew to SHJ, not DBX, and the relatively poor network outside of the Middle East killed the route. On top of that Kosovar citizens cannot get apply online for UAE visas sponsored by airlines. All these issues need to be addressed (right airline, right airport, relaxation of visa rules) before another operator has a go at PRN.
DeleteThose loads are quite good actually considering those issues.
DeletePRN has a lot of potential for any service. Before someone throws sticks and stones I'm Serbian but Kosovo has an extremely young population. Sooner or later all those people will travel by plane. That's why I think European LCC have the best opportunity in PRN at the moment.
DeleteYeah all those unemployed young people are just waiting to fly away to some exotic destination.
DeleteOut of all the lines they fly to ex-Yu they are doing worst in Skopje. Last year they handled 23,417 PAX which is down 7% compared to 2013. I hope they don't stop flying.
ReplyDeleteEX YU hvala za zanimljiv članak.
ReplyDeleteJako mi je drago da posluju dobro u LYBE tako su naneli OS udarac FZ i EK posto od 14 sep nece leteti vise za DXB.
ReplyDeleteNadam se da ce u makar sezonski EY slati 332 za BEG posto jednino tako moze biti konkurentan.
inn-NS
Tko neće više letjeti u DXB?
DeleteOS Austrian Airlines predao se od 14 sep nema vise letova zato sto su ih opkolili FZ I EK .
DeleteINN-NS
Sad se nadas da ce EY leteti sa 332 za BEG, a ne tako davno si TVRDIO I UVERAVAO ljude da ce gledati EY 332 skoro redovno u letnjem redu letenja, a ono ni a320 ne gledamo cesto...
DeleteNisam reko svakodnevno nego da ce dolaziti povremeno a nosam jedini o tome pisao i ponovo ste ljubomorni .
DeleteINN-NS
Nauci da citas sta pise...''TVRDIO I UVERAVAO ljude da ce gledati EY 332 skoro redovno'' dakle nigde ne pise svakodnevno.
DeleteA evo opet kazes povremeno, pa aj i to cudo da vidimo... Ako se do oktobra i jednom pojavi a332 a da nije cargo, racunacu da je EY POVREMENO slao a332...
Ljubomoran na sta? Ovo mi je samo zapalo za oko, a i sam znas koliko si izneo neistina...
Ne iznosim ne istine jel dolazi cesto EY sa 332 da dolazi samo sto je cargo varijanta , ali tako se prica ja prenosim sta cujem.
DeleteINN-NS
Macoru, nisi nam rekao dal' ces da se zaposlis na BEG?
DeleteMogu kad hocu nego nemam jos volju da radim ;).
DeleteINN-NS
Pa kako to da ne podrzavas svoju dragu kompaniju svojim sapicama, ne valja ti to nista...
DeletePa ja reko bolje da vas ubacim vi ste kao Anonymous sposobni .
DeleteINN-NS
Anonimni decko iz INN da li ti to hoces da kazes da Aerodrom Nikola Tesla zaposljava preko veze?
DeleteNe nego ja reko steta da tako pametan covek neradi nigde pa da se potrudim da vas zaposlim posto imate ogromno znanje.
DeleteJa se barem nekako potpisem a vi posto verovatno ne znate nista ne smetr ni da se potpisete.
INN-NS
Цицко, да ли знаш да и твој миљеник Дане овде с времна на време коментарише као Анонимус...
DeleteAnonimni decko iz INN, nema potrebe da se potpisujes, tvoj stil je toliko prepoznatljiv...
DeleteLooking back 3, 4 years ago how much capacity was added from DXB/DOH/AUH to ex YU + TK as well...simply amazing! Hopefully all those seats justify themselves and stay in the market long term!
ReplyDeleteFew days ago AUH-BEG came back full.
DeleteIs that an exception or is it usually like that? I mean, having full flight in JUL is not uncommon after all, especially with low capacity plane such as A319.
DeleteIt was an exception called Eid El Fitr (Bayram). Residents of muslim countries travel a lot on those days and exYU is a popular destination - especially for Turkish citizens.
DeleteActually, there were many pax coming from Australia, not sure how does that fit into your 'explanation'. I thought besides Bosnian nobody even travels to Belgrade. Then Turks, are you trying to say that by dumping prices Air Serbia has got people from Istanbul flying on AUH-BEG? Too bad Eid El Fitr can't help the numbers at Zagreb xoxo ^ ^
DeleteThere was a comment on MEB3 and TK increased capacity over the last few years. They all had a lot of sold out flights last week/weekend (during Eid), especially TK. Some readers may find the information useful but I certainly do not expect it from someone as illiterate and ignorant as you.
DeleteSure sure my sweetie, believe in whatever you want to believe Cmok :*
DeleteOT : As great number of bloggers are interested in airlines' statistics hear is JU performance for the first half of 2015 : 1.123.800 passengers (+18,5% yoy) with average LF 64,5%. Is OU supposed to post statistics for the same period any sooner ?
ReplyDeleteStill waiting for that JU 2014 financial report. Nowhere to be seen.
DeletePa OU se nikad ne pise a naravno JU ima ponovo najbolje rezultate.
DeleteINN-NS
Actually, Croatia Airlines is the only EX-YU carrier that publishes very detailed annual and quarterly results - both passenger and financial, which are publicly available. Both Air Serbia and Adria publish only their passenger performance (with exception to revenue) in form of a press release.
DeleteIf LF was really 65% with more than 40% portion of transfer passengers, it'd be catastrophic. Admin, have you got any information to confirm quoted result ?
DeleteSo has Croatia Airlines published its results yet ?
DeleteNo, it publishes its Q2 figures in the last week of July, or at least it has been the case so far. As for Air Serbia, according to preliminary figures, those numbers seem correct.
DeleteNaravno da je višlje to ja stalno govorim ali ovde pojedinci manipulisu brojevima!.
DeleteINN-NS
65% load factor and 40% of them being transfer passengers means that financially it's a disaster.
DeleteThey are basically subsidizing the travelers ticket price in order to fill their planes.
It is great if you are a passenger, not so great if you are the owner of this airline.
With all the hype in regards to ASL I was expecting better results. And I agree with 2:14 pm. If 65 percent load factor consists of 40 percent transfer, how can they be making money. Especially with the so-called lower fares. I only wish they would be more open and show their results every quarter. I think the population of Serbia has the right to know that since it is their tax dollars which covered JAT's losses so that ASL could be created.
DeleteNedaj boze da sevrati JAT ASL ima.jako dobre.racune samo vi ljubomorni manipulatori budite tihi.
DeleteINN-NS
INI opet si danas sirio lazi, BEG ne prima ljude u radni odnos vec na praksu. To nije ni slicno
Deletelf od 65% je katastrofa i to znaju i pticice na grani. to znaci da jedna kompanija posluje da bi isplatila plate zaposlenima, ketering, usluge aerodroma, kerozin ili biogorivo, mehanicare.. i sve ostale troskove koji idu uz poslovanje. sa popunjenoscu od 75% vec moze da se prica o nekakvoj zaradi i to mizernoj, ali svakako zaradi. ukidanje nekih linija je tezak pogodak za svaku aviokompaniju, posebno onih koje bi uz dodatna ulaganja i ideje strucnjaka mogle postati vrlo trazene i profitabilne. cak i uvodjenje nekih linija bi bilo vrlo pozeljno, posebno ako se radi o veoma jakim destinacijama sa velikim brojem turista, poslovnih ljudi, a pre svega dijaspore. svi znamo koje su to nepostojece linije na asl-u da ih ne navodim sad kao sto mnogi od vas pisu. dakle, dolazimo do zakljucka da je sve to veoma lose. ne bih da pricam o teranju asl-a sa trzista geteborga i larnake od strane, po mom misljenju, ocajnog viza, kao i sada uzimanju dela kolaca od strane juzne srbije do skandinavije i svajcarske. mnogi su sa juga upravo dolazili do beg-a kako bi se uputili u cirih, juznu nemacku, istocnu francusku, a boga mi i dalje, ostatkom loukost kompanija do drugih destinacija.. itd itd.. dakle, cene karata moraju biti pristupacne trzistu iz koje je aviokompanija. a to dovodi i do odluke pri iznajmljivanju aviona i sl. ako si uveo dodatni let do praga atr-om, sta to znaci? to znaci da je verovatno povecana traznja, jer se dodatni letovi uvode iskljucivo iz tog razloga. ako je vec povecana traznja, smanji cenu karte, jer ces imati i vecu popunjenost kabine. ako jedna linija ne ide dobro, jednostavno je prvo redukujes, mada redukcija ne mora da istovremeno znaci i bolju popunjenost.. ali zato je mozes otkazati na odredjeni period ili potpuno, a ne muciti se godinama, kao sto je jat cinio na trstu ili sezonski ka portorozu, kad smo gledali na jutjubu snimke sa 5 putnika iz slovenije ka beg-u. takodje cesto je neophodan i rizik da bi kompanija mogla da posluje uspesno, kao sto bi bile brojne linije ka italiji, nemackoj, austriji, jer nemamo tacnu statistiku iz kojih sve delova austrije ljudi dolaze u beograd. jedan zitelj kalgenfurta ce se radije uputiti kolima do beograda nego se voziti do beca pa na avion itd itd.. sve u svemu, kod nas se slabo vodi racuna o interesu potrosaca, putnika, u bilo kojoj sferi privredjivanja. neko nesto odluci i tako bude, bez da taj neko ima iti malo znanja o onome o cemu odlucuje, a i narod nije nesto preterano mudar da bi sproveo svoja prava ili neku odluku..
DeleteZa stanovnike Srbije ne postoji dovoljno niska cena karte kod legacy prevoznika - neka im ponude CDG ili DUS za 50 evra uz 50kg besplatnog prtljaga, opet će reći da je preskupo i da ih država pljačka (a ovde će se komentarisati o neodrživom dampingu - a kada damping prestane onda ne valja LF, ukratko nikad ništa ne valja).
DeleteNaravno to važi samo za domaćeg prevoznika. Stranim prevoznicima naš čovek uredno plati koliko god traže, prihvati sva ograničenja, proguta sve eventualne neprijatnosti tokom leta i ukratko bude manji od makovog zrna tokom čitavog procesa. Zato Srbija i ne treba da ima ništa domaće. Strano je uvek bolje i nikad nije preskupo, prema tome našim ljudima to treba i omogućiti. Svi će biti zadovoljni, jedino što kad ne bude Er Srbije neće imati na koga da se istresaju ali to je mala cena naspram svih benefita koje ćemo dobiti njenim gašenjem.
@4:30PM
DeleteNa kom fakultetu ste vi zavrsili vazduhoplovstvo ?
INN-NS
Anon 4:30PM nije ni u jednom momentu pomenuo bilo šta što bi zahtevalo da ima diplomu iz oblasti vazduhoplovstva, mašinstva ili srodne oblasti - pre će biti finansije, ekonomija, ili nešto slično. Ili prosto zdrava logika uz malo iskustva u industriji.
DeleteNe znam samo odakle jednom Anonymous pravo da proziva drugog da mu daje lične reference. Da ste Vi, INN-NS, potpisujete imenom i prezimenom i kažete šta ste Vi završili od škola, imali biste pravo da isto to tražite od drugih.
I heard ASL has 2300 employees incl.support and catering? That's over 1500 new staff since they took JAT aw 18 months ago?
DeleteCovek lupa gluposti za flotu koju ASL ima potreban je znatno manji LF za profit pritom ne racuna cargo saobracaj u ASL koj je 4 puta vise narastao od od putnickog .
DeletePa ja koji se jos skolujem znam da je to bivsi jatovac i gotovo ljubomoran i da ima toliko znanje nebi sedeo za kompjuterom vec bi radio za neku veliku aviokompaniju.
INN-NS
Problem je sto su ljudi bezobrazni i nerealni ,cuj ne moze racunati na ozbiljan profit dobro jutro Kolumbo,naravno da se ne moze racunati na neki profit ali i samo poslovanje na 0 je ogromna stvar u poredjenju od pre samo 2 god,pa rast putnika na ant i profita itd.Ponekad se pitam jel ljudi citaju gluposti koje pisu ili cisto da se pljune po necemu.Videcemo sve aviokompanije kad objave izvestaj za 2015 garantovano nijedna nece biti ni na 0 osim ju
Delete^ I Adria i Croatia su bili u plusu u 2014 i za razliku od JU objavili su svoj finansijski izvestaj.
DeleteMislis da "potencijalni" kupci ne umeju da citaju finansijske izvestaje?
DeletePa zato se svi utrkuju sa ponudama ..
DeleteNe razumem da neko moze toliko da bude ljubomoran kad prica gluposti o profitu koji je ispravan i koji je potvrdila svetska kompanija.
INN-NS
Haha, prodali motore pa su u plusu, uskoro ce i tockove pa da vidimo sa cime ce da lete. Flota OU vec izgleda krajnje neimpresivno.
DeleteUz pretnju da cu biti deklarisan kao ASL fanboy, neznam kako neko na 18.5% vise putnika moze gledati kao negtivno. Slazem se da u kombinaciji sa 65% LF ni u kojem slucaju ne znaci bilo kakav profit, ali je ako nista drugo pozitivan trend koji ako sada ne pravi pare nekada mozda hoce.
DeleteSto se tice LF intereesantno bi bilo uporediti ga sa proslogodisnjim (ubacite info ako imate molim vas) ali pretpostavljam da je I tu neko povecanje. Naravno popuniti sjediste I popuniti ga po cjeni na kojoj zaradjujes nije jedno te isto tako da se slazem sa zabrinutima ali kao sto rekoh u moru negativnih informacija, ja bih ovo uzeo kao pozitivnu sa dobrom dozom opreznosti.
I ja bih uzeo kao pozitivno otkazivanje Budimpeste i Larnake.
Deletehttp://www.airserbia.com/en-fr/news/air-serbia-records-profitability-in-first-full-year-of-operation
Deletelast years lf was 67%
Not too sure how this might relate to the actual loads on FlyDubai Zagreb routes but a friend the other week posted on FB that he missed his connection to Zagreb and was stuck in Dubai for 4 days waiting for an available onward flight with FlyDubai....??
ReplyDeleteIt's good sign. I remember reading here that Fly Dubai wanted to fly to Zagreb a while back but had some operational issues, which is why they decided not to and it took them a few years before they started.
DeleteVery strange FZ payed hotels etc for 4 days instead of rebooking him to some other option via other carriers....
DeleteWasn't it Ramadan? Don't people travel more during that holiday period? Everything might have been full.
DeleteJust noticed FlyDubai has 3 flights to Zagreb per week, I thought it was 4. Makes more sense why he had to wait 4 days now.
DeleteYes, 3 a week. Still, strange to keep pax for 4 days no matter that it is busy travel period (plus, fuller to DXB than from during Eid). Anyway, nice to have 4 days free of charge DXB visit if one has time! :)
DeleteIf You said so, then the flights to BEG (or SKP) were full to, as it was easy for FlyDubi to redirect that passanger via BEG
DeleteI believe that SJJ is now the best performing route for FZ with 5 or 6 weekly during summer, but during winter only 2 flights per week thought and BEG and ZAG 3 p/w
DeleteFZ to ZAG is fully booked this days , today 162
DeleteSve nesudjeni vlasnici aviokompanija. Lupetanje na kvadrat.
ReplyDeleteFrom Skopje, Flydubai does not have competition to Dubai and is the only one-stop option to Australia with large Macedonian diaspora, yet only two flights a week. When JAT DC-10 was late from Australia, flights from Belgrade to Skopje and Ohrid frequently waited for DC-10 to arrive because large number of passengers would continue to Macedonia. How come Macedonian diaspora in Australia does not drive more Flydubai weekly frequency to SKP?
ReplyDeleteCan anyone provide update on whether QR numbers are picking up in BEG now with daily flights (still via SOF). Are QR pax numbers going strong still in ZAG? I know this question was asked many times before, but I feel like its time for an update plus today's topic relates to my question.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, this summer LFs are usually at 80%-90%. Considering that last year it was still tagged with Budapest, I think it is significant increase of passengers. So seems that volume wise business is doing good for QR in ZAG in this period.
DeleteIn Belgrade QR figures are slowly improving, in July they will surpass 50 passengers per flight.
ReplyDeleteThat was about time, especially considering that the flights are daily now.
Delete