FlyDubai orders 150 Airbus aircraft, expanding fleet beyond Boeing

FlyDubai, the low-cost sister airline of Emirates, has announced an order for 150 Airbus A321neo aircraft at the Dubai Air Show, marking the first time the carrier will expand its fleet beyond Boeing.

The deal, valued at an estimated $24 billion, would more than double FlyDubai's current fleet of 95 aircraft, with options to purchase an additional 100 A321neos, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“It's an exciting step in expanding and diversifying our fleet and strengthening our long-term expansion plans,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and CEO of Emirates and chairman of FlyDubai.

The A321neo, a mid-range, single-aisle aircraft, complements FlyDubai's existing Boeing 737s and comes as the airline prepares to take delivery of 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, its first wide-body jets.

Airbus CEO Christian Scherer praised FlyDubai, saying, “We’re very impressed with FlyDubai as an efficiency-minded carrier that’s also offering a premium product.”

The announcement coincides with broader growth plans for Dubai’s aviation sector, including Emirates’ $38 billion order for 65 Boeing 777 9 aircraft and a $35 billion expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport to five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates.

By Aghakazim Guliyev