flydubai
flydubai at a glance
flydubai is the Dubai government's second airline, launched in 2009 to connect the emirate with cities the widebody-only Emirates cannot serve economically. From Dubai International it flies about 90 Boeing 737s to 131 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe, feeding the Emirates network through one of aviation's closest partnerships.
Still led by founding CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith, flydubai is entering a new era: its first widebodies, 30 Boeing 787-9s, arrive from 2026 to stretch the network toward the UK and Australia, and a $24 billion order for 150 Airbus A321neos, its first Airbus deal ever, secures growth from 2031 to 2043.
Fleet
flydubai has flown only Boeing 737s since 2009, but that is changing fast: 30 Boeing 787-9s begin arriving in 2026, and a landmark November 2025 order added 150 Airbus A321neos from 2031.
| Aircraft | Role | Fleet Size |
|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-800 | Legacy fleet | ~25 |
| Boeing 737 MAX 8 | Backbone of the fleet | ~60 |
| Boeing 737 MAX 9 | Higher-capacity narrowbody | ~5 |
| Boeing 787-9 | First widebodies, arriving from 2026 | 30 ordered |
| Airbus A321neo | Landmark 150-aircraft order, deliveries from 2031 | 150 ordered |
Hub & route network
flydubai operates from Dubai International, mainly Terminal 2 with premium flights from Terminal 3 alongside Emirates, serving 131 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Central and South Asia and Eastern Europe, many of them cities no other Dubai carrier serves.Alliance & partnerships
Its defining relationship is with Emirates: a deep partnership of schedules, codeshares and a shared Skywards loyalty programme that lets the two Dubai government-owned airlines behave as one connected network.Group structure
Dubai Aviation Corporation, trading as flydubai, is owned by the Government of Dubai and chaired by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who also chairs Emirates; the airlines remain separate companies by design.Full specifications
Latest flydubai coverage from AeroTime
Frequently asked questions
No, they are separate Dubai government-owned companies, but they share a chairman, a loyalty programme in Skywards and a deep codeshare partnership that effectively links their networks.
An all-Boeing 737 fleet of about 90 aircraft today, with 30 Boeing 787-9s arriving from 2026 and 150 Airbus A321neos ordered for delivery from 2031.
131 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Central and South Asia and Eastern Europe from Dubai International, many of them routes no other Dubai airline serves.