Examined: The Longest Routes Operated By Flydubai
Emirati-owned flyDubai is making headwinds from its current hub at Dubai International Airport (DXB). It extends as far as Malaysia to the east and soon to be Switzerland in the west. From its home at Dubai’s Terminal 2, the airline currently serves up to 124 destinations with its 86 Boeing 737 aircraft fleet.
While the carrier was initially established to operate independently of Emirates, the world-renowned carrier was instrumental in establishing flyDubai. The airlines have reciprocal codeshares on several services, and the smaller carrier can capitalize on slimmer, more unique markets that could not sustain Emirates widebody aircraft.
Operating a fleet of all Boeing 737 aircraft has had its pros and cons for the airline, such as the grounding in 2019 of the 737 MAX variant. It was home to 11 aircraft then, and its grounding was detrimental to the airline’s growth plan.
On the flip side, operating 54 Boeing 737-8, 29 737-800, and three 737-9 means that the carrier has been able to optimize its maintenance strategy by focusing on one family of aircraft, and all services onboard remain the same regardless of which flight passengers are on.
flyDubai’s longest routes
The airline’s unique route map connects to many smaller airports across Europe and Asia, with the longest route serving Penang, Malaysia. This analysis will look at the top five longest routes for June 2024, according to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company.
Dubai (DXB) to Penang (PEN)
This flight connects the Middle East to Penang Island, Malaysia, home to almost 800,000 inhabitants. At 3,275 miles, this is the carrier’s longest route. It is served daily, operating Dubai—Penang and an add-on to Langkawi. At six hours and 30 minutes on the outbound Dubai service, passengers will be well ready for sleep, given its early departure time of 04:45 daily.
- FZ1603 departs Dubai daily at 04:45, traveling east and touching down at Penang at 15:30
- FZ1603 then continues from Penang at 16:30 and arrives in Langkawi at 17:10
- FZ1604 returns from Langkawi at 20:10 into Penang at 21:10
- FZ1604 operates the final sector from Penang at 22:10, arriving home in Dubai at 01:55
Dubai (DXB) to Krabi (KBV)
Served five times weekly, flyDubai operates its second-longest route to Krabi International Airport (KBV), Thailand’s resort paradise. At 3,104 miles, it’s just 131 miles behind Penang. The Emirati carrier alternates its schedule to optimize transfer times through its Dubai hub. Its two services are outlined below:
- FZ1463, operating on Fridays and Sundays, leaves Dubai at 01:35 and travels towards Krabi for over six hours. The service arrives in Krabi at 10:55
- FZ1464 then returns from Krabi at 11:55 and arrives back in Dubai at 16:05
Its alternative service operates on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday and follows the below schedule:
- FZ1481 departs Dubai at 10:20, arriving in Krabi at 19:35
- FZ1482 pushes back from Krabi at 22:45 and arrives in Dubai at 03:00 the following day.
Dubai (DXB) to Pattaya (UTP)
Travel to U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport (UTP) in Thailand has become even easier for those traveling from Dubai and further afield with flyDubai’s direct service to Pattaya. Its five-times-a-week service is the third longest in the carrier’s network, reaching 3,094 miles in each direction and encompassing an almost six-hour flight time. Once again, the airline fluctuates its weekly timings to optimize transfer passengers.
- FZ1445 departs Dubai at 10:30, touching down in Pattaya at 19:45
- FZ1446 returns from Pattaya at 23:00, arriving in Dubai at 03:15
The second schedule follows:
- FZ1446 departs Dubai at 01:35, arriving in Pattaya at 10:50
- FZ1448 departs Pattaya at 11:50, arriving back in Dubai at 16:00
Below 3,000 miles
It’s time to head west, with the following top two destinations in Italy and Europe. FlyDubai has taken the opportunity to use the current capabilities of the 737 MAX aircraft to service smaller airports throughout Europe that cannot sustain Emirates widebody aircraft. Two examples of this are Olbia, in Sardinia, and Milan Bergamo, a European low-cost airline hub located 45 minutes from central Milan.
Dubai (DXB) to Milan Bergamo (BGY)
At 2,883 miles, this service is the carrier’s fourth longest and the only one in the top five to be served double daily. FlyDubai operates the below schedule on the six-and-a-half-hour flight:
- FZ1571 departs Dubai at 17:25, arriving in Milan Bergamo at 22:20
- FZ1572 departs Milan Bergamo at 23:20, arriving in Dubai at 07:40
The second daily service follows:
- FZ1573 departs Dubai at 07:20, arriving in Milan Bergamo at 12:15
- FZ1574 departs Milan Bergamo at 13:40, returning to Dubai at 21:55
Emirates also serves the Milan region, with a double daily Airbus A380 service direct to Milan Malpensa (MXP) airport. One of these services (EK205) continues with a fifth-freedom service to New York JFK.
Dubai (DXB) to Olbia (OLB)
The airline’s fifth-longest service is currently to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB) in Sardinia. This seasonal service operates twice a week throughout the Northern Hemisphere summer from June 15 to August 31.
- FZ1507 departs Dubai at 07:10, arriving in Olbia at 12:05
- FZ1508 returns from Olbia at 13:05, arriving back in Dubai at 21:25
