Flydubai Signs First Airbus Deal For 150 A321neos

DUBAI—Flydubai is deviating from its all-Boeing fleet strategy and committed to order 150 Airbus A321neos.

The deal, a memorandum of understanding, was announced Nov. 18 at the Dubai Airshow and represents a major win for Airbus in the emirate after Flydubai’s sister carrier Emirates selected more Boeing 777-9s, but no additional A350s, for the time being.

According to Aviation Week Network’s Fleet Discovery database, flydubai has an in-service fleet of 97 737s, a mix of MAXs and -800s. The airline has outstanding orders for 116 MAXs and 30 787-9s, which will be its first widebodies, now confirmed to be powered by GEnx engines.

Flydubai Chairman Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum said that the order was the fifth the airline had placed since its launch in 2008 and supported the long-term expansion plans.

According to Airbus Chief Commercial Officer Benoit de Saint-Exupéry, the first A321neos will be delivered to the airline in 2031. That would be a year before the major expansion of Dubai World Central (DWC) airport planned for 2032.

The Airbus order “will enable flydubai to play a key role in the success of Dubai World Central’s expansion plans, an airport we aim to become the largest airport in the world,” Al Maktoum said.

Negotiations on which version of the A321neo is going to be selected will continue over the coming weeks, officials said. Flydubai has flexibility to select the baseline A321neo, the A321LR or A321XLR. The airline has not yet selected an engine type.

Flydubai’s order adds to the proliferation of the A320neo family in the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad has taken delivery of A321LRs. Its direct order comprises a total of 20 A321neos and it operates 12 sources from lessors at the end of October. Sharjah-based Air Arabia has started receiving a total of 120 Airbus A320neo aircraft, among them 50 A320neos (and XLRs).