Flydubai And Dubai Airports Sign Service Level Agreement To Enhance Operational Efficiency

The collaboration between flydubai and Dubai Airports has reached a new milestone with the signing of a Service Level Agreement (SLA) during the Dubai Airshow 2025. This agreement aims to enhance both operational and financial efficiency within the aviation sector. The integration connects flydubai’s systems with Dubai Airports’ operational database and billing platform, creating an automated billing process that replaces manual workflows.

This new system uses the standard iXML format to handle tasks that previously required extensive PDF documentation and lengthy OCR checks. Now, invoices are sent digitally to flydubai, allowing immediate import and verification. This process, which once took weeks, is now instantaneous. The integration significantly improves audit and compliance for passenger charges, addressing challenges faced by major carriers like flydubai due to large data volumes.

Francois Oberholzer, Chief Financial Officer at flydubai, stated, "Through this new integration with Dubai Airports, we’ve transformed a once lengthy and labour-intensive process into a fully automated, real-time workflow. By linking directly with Dubai Airports’ operational database and billing platform, we now receive accurate, standardised invoices that we can validate instantly."

During a ceremony at Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International (DWC), team members from both organisations were recognised for their roles in completing the joint billing integration project. This initiative enhances transparency, automation, and data accuracy in passenger billing processes. Adil Al Fahim, Chief Financial Officer of Dubai Airports, remarked on the significance of this achievement.

Al Fahim said, "The Dubai Airshow is where the future of aviation takes flight, and today’s signing reflects that spirit. Our integration with flydubai transforms what was previously a long, manual process into a fully automated, auditable system, strengthening trust, efficiency, and operational excellence across the UAE’s aviation landscape."

Project Implementation and Future Prospects

The project was completed in eight months through collaboration among teams from Dubai Airports' finance, operations, business technology divisions, the Dubai Digital Authority, GRP and flydubai counterparts. The first automated billing was successfully issued on 10th October 2025. This development supports scalability for DWC expansion while enhancing decision-making agility.

The integration not only strengthens financial resilience but also aligns with best practices by reducing human error risks. It sets a benchmark for evolving financial processes to support aviation excellence in the UAE. The project exemplifies how smart system integration can deliver immediate value by improving transparency and efficiency across operations.

This advancement marks significant progress for both organisations as they continue to innovate within the aviation industry. The collaboration highlights how technology can transform traditional processes into efficient systems that benefit all stakeholders involved.

With inputs from WAM