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DUBAI—Flydubai is set to substantially increase its Boeing 737 MAX fleet in spite of its decision to add the Airbus A321neo to its fleet.
The airline signed a memorandum of understanding with Boeing on Nov. 19 to order 75 more 737 MAXs here at the Dubai Airshow with options for 75 more.
Flydubai currently has a fleet of 69 737 MAXs and 27 737-800s. From previous orders, it is still planning to take delivery of 116 more MAXs plus 30 787-9s, its first widebodies. The airline announced its first Airbus order on Nov. 18 at the show, committing to take up to 150 A321neos.
Including the 75 additional aircraft, Flydubai now has outstanding orders for 191 MAXs.
The orders prepare the airline for aggressive expansion once the new Dubai World Central airport expansion phase is completed, a milestone expected for 2032. Then, all airlines are planned to move from the current Dubai International Airport (DXB) to DWC. Passenger capacity will increase from around 100 million at DXB to 250 million. The new airport will also have five runways, compared to two at DXB, allowing many more frequencies.
Flydubai’s plan is to use the A321neos partly on the existing network where gauge increases are needed, as the aircraft has 15 more seats than the 737-10. They will also enable the airline to fly routes of up to 9 hr., which is 2 hr. more than the 737 MAXs, CEO Gaith Al Gaith said. The first A321neos will arrive in 2031.
Al Gaith did not specify what versions of the A321neos and the MAX Flydubai will select. One reason for ordering the A321neos was the “uncertainty over the 737-10,” he said.
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