summary
- Dubai’s low-cost airline flydubai has ordered its first ever wide-body aircraft, purchasing 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
- The airline’s chairman, Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, expressed confidence in the strength of the airline and announced the order as an important milestone.
- While flydubai’s current fleet primarily consists of Boeing 737s, its move into the widebody space reflects the company’s commitment to advanced and efficient aircraft.
Following Emirates Airlines’ large order for the Boeing 777X, Dubai’s low-cost airline flydubai has signed an order for its first-ever widebody aircraft. The company has placed a firm order with Boeing for 30 787-9 Dreamliners, with delivery scheduled to begin in 2026, with a market value of $11 billion.
At the announcement of the order, Chairman Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum highlighted the importance of this, the company’s first foray into the widebody world, saying:
“We are confident that this young airline is as strong today as ever and are pleased to announce this aircraft order. This order is special and represents a strong business model. It marks the beginning of a new chapter for the airline, building on its success.”
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
To date, the company has only ordered Boeing 737 family aircraft. According to ch-aviation, the airline currently operates 30 Boeing 737-800s and has a growing fleet of MAX aircraft. Currently, he has 50 MAX aircraft in his fleet, most of which are 737-8s, but he also has three 737-9s lined up. An additional 136 737 MAX orders have been placed, but the variant split has not yet been finalized. The chairman further explained the reason for expanding into the widebody field as follows:
“This is flydubai’s first widebody aircraft order and diversifies its fleet… Investing in the most advanced and efficient aircraft has always been flydubai’s strategy and today’s order does just that. It reflects.”
Fleet diversification
In just 14 short years, flydubai has proven that its low-cost model can establish itself in the Middle East, growing into a major connector from its Dubai hub. It currently connects more than 115 destinations in the region, covering 54 countries and extending into Africa, Central Asia and India. Surprisingly 75 of his routes were not previously operated by UAE airlines or had any links from Dubai at all.
Photo: flydubai
However, the airline’s strategy has always been the same as other low-cost carriers: a single aircraft type. Adding the Dreamliner would add cost and complexity to the airline’s operations, and flydubai would pay a penalty, but clearly the airline believes it’s worth it. The Dreamliner’s long range allows it to open new routes to more distant destinations, connecting more points and opening lower-cost options for more travelers.
The 787-9 will likely be deployed on routes that do not directly compete with Emirates. For example, Fly Dubai could land in the UK, but it might choose an airport that Emirates doesn’t already have many flights to, such as London Luton, Cardiff or Birmingham. flydubai already offers a business class product on its 737 MAX aircraft, including lie-flat seats. So when the 787s start arriving in three years, you can expect them to be loaded with premium products.
Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in announcing the order:
“It is a great honor to be part of this milestone with flydubai, an airline that started with the next-generation 737, spread its wings across the region, and expanded its international reach with the addition of the 737 MAX. If we can do that, we can really expand our reach in a very environmentally sustainable way.”
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