
From its birth as a low-cost in 2008 to the current hybrid model: fleet analysis, partnership with Emirates and financial results
AI-generated summary
Flydubai was founded in 2008 on the initiative of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The company operates as Dubai Aviation Corporation and is wholly owned by the local government.
The Flydubai company
Created as a low-cost bet by the Dubai government, FlyDubai was founded in 2008 on the initiative of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who wanted a second Emirati airline in the Dubai airport. Born with a model oriented towards low-cost flights, the company has significantly expanded its network over the years and today connects Dubai with various destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe. Officially registered as Dubai Aviation Corporation and entirely controlled by the local government, it has overcome the rigid low-cost label: although it was created to offer affordable fares, the company has evolved into a hybrid model.
The planes
Flydubai is made up of an all-Boeing fleet and also offers a Business Class with lie-flat seats and access to the award-winning Emirates Skywards loyalty programme. The company has also become a protagonist on the geopolitical scene, inaugurating the first direct commercial connection between the Emirates and Israel in November 2020, following the historic signing of the Abraham Accords.
The partnership with Emirates
Thanks to its strategic partnership with Emirates, which allows passengers to easily transit from Dubai Terminal 3 to over 120 destinations around the world, FlyDubai has continued its strategic route expansion. It currently covers a network of 140 destinations in 58 countries (including Italy where it operates in several airports). In recent years it has increased its fleet to 97 aircraft, following the delivery of 12 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, with traffic of approximately 1.3 million passengers per month.
The turnover
According to the latest financial data, the Dubai-based company recorded almost 4 billion in turnover in 2025 and a net profit of almost 600 million dollars. With a workforce of approximately 5,500 employees of 140 nationalities, it stands out as one of the most multicultural companies in the aviation sector. Among them there are over a thousand pilots, including commanders and first officers.

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