Middle East's Five Biggest Fleets

Flydubai currently operates 61 aircraft, comprised of the Boeing 737-800 and newer 737 MAX, but its expansion plans are sizeable. In December 2017, it placed a $27 billion order with Boeing for 175 737 MAX aircraft – the single largest aircraft order in Middle East history. The deal also includes options for an additional 50 aircraft.

Etihad flies 122 aircraft in total, comprised of Airbus A320, A330, A340 and A380 aircraft, along with Boeing 777 and 787-9s. It also operates freighter versions of the A330 and 777 in its cargo division.

Saudia runs a fleet of 192 aircraft, consisting of Airbus and Boeing narrowbodies, along with widebodies which include A330s, 747-400 and -200, and the 787-9. Saudia also operates the 747 and the 777 in its cargo fleet. The state-owned airline is light on future orders and commitments, however, it stated its intentions in late 2017 to ramp up parts of its fleet through new orders with Boeing and Airbus.

Qatar Airways operates 209 aircraft as of January 2018. The carrier’s fleet consist of A320 family aircraft, A330s, A340s, A350s and A380s. Its Boeing contingent includes the 777-200 and -300 and 30 787-8s. Cargo aircraft consist of A330, 747 and 777 aircraft. Like Emirates, it also has an extensive order backlog of more than 200 aircraft.

The largest fleet in the region, Emirates is currently flying 244 aircraft. In its fleet, it has 140 Boeing 777s, 101 Airbus A380s and a single A319 in its executive fleet. It has more more than 200 aircraft on order, including the -8 and -9 variants of the 777, along with a commitment for 40 787-10s, with deliveries expected to begin in 2022.