flydubai commits to USD 11.4 billion Boeing 737 aircraft order
Represents largest single-aisle Boeing aircraft commitment placed in the Middle East
Sunday, November 17, 2013 — flydubai has announced today a commitment for an order for up to 111 aircraft from Boeing. This order includes up to 100 Boeing 737 MAX and up to 11 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800s.
In only four and a half years flydubai has, in this short time, built up a network of more than 65 destinations, served by a fleet of 33 Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The remaining aircraft from its 2008 order will be fulfilled by 2015. It achieved profitability in its third year of operation. It continues to focus on the needs of its passengers most recently launching Business Class services. It made this service available, for the first time, on several of the 46 previously underserved destinations it flies to.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of flydubai, said: “flydubai recognized, in 2008, the growing demand for travel to and from Dubai and ordered 50 Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Four and a half years later, today’s commitment for an order for up to 111 aircraft from Boeing signifies the strength of flydubai’s business model and the still untapped opportunity to connect previously underserved markets to Dubai. flydubai will continue to contribute to the growth of trade and tourism in the UAE, an internationally established centre for aviation.“
Commenting on the choice of aircraft, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed said: “The decision to order the Boeing 737 MAX represents the largest commitment to order a single-aisle Boeing aircraft in the Middle East and this acquisition will support flydubai’s ambitions going forward.”
The first aircraft, Next-Generation Boeing 737-800s from this order, will be delivered between 2016 and 2017. Deliveries of the first Boeing 737 MAX will commence in the second half of 2017 and continue until the end of 2023. As one of the most reliable and efficient single-aisle aircraft models of its type currently available today it will support flydubai’s continued growth.
“This order is a remarkable milestone for Boeing,” said Ray Conner, president and chief executive officer, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Not only is it the largest single-aisle order for Boeing in the Middle East, but more importantly, we are extremely proud of the confidence that flydubai continues to place in our products with an all-Boeing fleet. We look forward to continue strengthening this partnership and see our Next-Generation 737-800s and subsequently the 737 MAX play a central role in flydubai’s rapid expansion plans.”
In 2013, flydubai announced 16 new routes and increased the frequency of several destinations across its network.
