Boeing 737-8 MAX flydubai
Registration: A6-FMQ
Type: 737-8
Engines: 2 × CFMI LEAP-1B28
Serial Number: 60992
First flight: Jun 15, 2021
In 2008, as the world was gripped by financial crisis, the Dubai government made a bold decision – to create its own budget airline. This is how flydubai was born, becoming the answer to the growing need for affordable air travel from the rapidly developing UAE aviation hub.
From the very beginning, the concept was clear: to connect Dubai with underserved markets where major carriers didn't fly, while offering affordable prices and reliable service. Interestingly, flydubai is often called Emirates' "sister" – both companies are owned by the Dubai government and are even headed by the same person, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. However, the companies' management is completely independent, and their strategies differ significantly.
While Emirates positions itself as a premium carrier with a focus on long-haul flights using wide-body aircraft, flydubai has focused on short and medium-haul routes with a narrow-body fleet. At the same time, the airline avoids the term "low-cost carrier," preferring to call itself a "hybrid carrier" – after all, it offers both business class with lie-flat seats and an in-flight entertainment system in economy class.
Flydubai's fleet has been built from the start on the principle of single fleet type – using one type of aircraft. By the end of 2025, the fleet numbered 96 Boeing 737 family aircraft. Four more MAX 8 aircraft are planned for delivery in 2025, bringing the total fleet size to 100 units.
The Boeing 737 MAX will remain the backbone of the fleet for the coming years. However, at the Dubai Airshow in November 2023, flydubai announced an order for 30 wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. This is the first time the airline intends to move beyond the narrow-body segment. Dreamliner deliveries are planned to begin in 2026.
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