Middle East Airline's Fleet to Exceed 100 Aircraft with 11 Boeing 737 MAX Deliveries in 2026

United Arab Emirates – Dubai-based airline flydubai plans to grow its fleet beyond 100 aircraft during 2026 through deliveries of Boeing 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft, while progressively replacing older Boeing 737-800s. The expansion increases the airline's near-term Boeing fleet and pilot requirement ahead of a longer-term strategy that will introduce both Airbus A321neo and Boeing 787 aircraft.

• flydubai's current fleet comprises 98 Boeing 737 aircraft:
  • 25 Next-Generation 737-800s,
  • 69 737 MAX 8s, and
  • 4 737 MAX 9s.
• The carrier's 2026 delivery plan comprises 11 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft: seven 737 MAX 9s and four 737 MAX 8s. The incoming aircraft will support both fleet replacement and growth, taking flydubai beyond 100 aircraft as older aircraft leave the operation.
• The latest delivery outlook represents a slight change from flydubai's February 2026 plan, when it expected 12 aircraft during the year comprising seven MAX 9s and five MAX 8s. AFM previously reported that flydubai ended 2025 with 97 aircraft after receiving 12 MAX 8s during that year.
• The increasing proportion of 737 MAX 9s adds higher-capacity aircraft to the fleet. flydubai configures the MAX 9 with 16 Business Class and 156 Economy Class seats, while some of its MAX 8 aircraft have 10 Business Class seats.
• flydubai states that it has more than 300 aircraft in its forward fleet pipeline. This includes 30 Boeing 787-9s scheduled to begin arriving from early 2028, alongside additional Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and its agreement for 150 Airbus A321neos, which are planned for delivery from 2031.
• The longer-term orders will progressively change flydubai from an all-Boeing 737 operator into a multi-type airline. The 787-9 will introduce widebody operations, while the A321neo agreement adds a second narrowbody aircraft family, creating future requirements for additional type-specific flight crew, technical and simulator training infrastructure.
• AFM previously reported that flydubai expanded its Dubai Flight Training Centre to four Boeing 737 full-flight simulators during 2025. The airline currently employs more than 1,520 qualified pilots as it prepares for its next phase of fleet expansion.

Statements

• “Growing our fleet beyond 100 aircraft is a significant milestone for flydubai and shows how far we have come. These deliveries are central to our long-term fleet strategy, providing the capacity and flexibility to support our growing operations while operating one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the skies. Our investment does not stop with the new aircraft. We remain focused on enhancing our existing fleet, ensuring our customers enjoy a seamless and elevated experience when they travel with us. Our new retrofit programme marks another significant investment in our product offering and reflects our commitment to continuously enhancing the flydubai onboard experience,” said Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai.

Source: flydubai