flydubai marks 100-aircraft fleet milestone, announces new cabin retrofit programme

• The airline will take delivery of 11 additional Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in 2026, taking its fleet beyond 100 aircraft
• A new retrofit programme, launching in September, will add more lie-flat Business Class seats and larger overhead storage capacity across the carrier’s Boeing 737 MAX fleet

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 15 September 2026: flydubai has announced the next phase of its growth strategy, expanding its fleet beyond 100 aircraft and launching a new cabin retrofit programme in September.

The airline will take delivery of 11 additional aircraft in 2026, including seven Boeing 737-9 MAX and four Boeing 737-8 MAX, marking a significant step in its ongoing expansion.

The planned deliveries are part of flydubai’s long-term fleet modernisation plan, replacing older aircraft while offering the airline greater flexibility to expand its network, add capacity on high-demand routes and unlock future growth opportunities.

The introduction of newer-generation aircraft will also reinforce flydubai’s commitment to operating a younger, more fuel-efficient fleet, while offering customers a more consistent and refined onboard experience.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: “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.”

flydubai's Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft feature 16 Business Class and 156 Economy Class seats, compared with 10 Business Class seats on some Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft.

This added premium capacity allows the airline to meet strong demand for Business Class on key international routes, capture more high-yield traffic and deploy capacity more efficiently across existing flight frequencies.

In addition to expanding its fleet, flydubai will roll out the next phase of its cabin retrofit programme from September, further enhancing the onboard experience across its Boeing 737 MAX fleet.

Over the next 12 months, a total of 21 aircraft currently fitted with recliner Business Class seats will be retrofitted with flydubai’s signature lie-flat seats, offering passengers greater comfort throughout their flight.

The programme will also see existing overhead bins replaced with Boeing’s larger Space Bins, expanding cabin baggage capacity and ensuring a smoother boarding experience for passengers. The upgraded bins can accommodate up to six standard-sized bags, compared with four in a standard overhead bin.

The new programme builds on flydubai’s previous multimillion-dollar retrofit investment, which delivered a full cabin refresh across the airline’s Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 fleet, including the introduction of lie-flat Business Class seats, new Economy Class seats and inflight entertainment.

Together, these enhancements represent a major step towards greater product consistency across the carrier’s growing fleet. As new aircraft join the fleet and existing aircraft are upgraded, flydubai customers will enjoy a more comfortable and convenient journey both in the air and on the ground, underscoring the airline’s commitment to elevating the customer experience as it continues to expand its fleet and network.

The fleet expansion and retrofit programme are part of flydubai’s wider investment in strengthening its future capabilities, including its onboard product, technology, training and engineering infrastructure, positioning the carrier for its next phase of growth and advancing Dubai’s development as a leading global hub for aviation, trade and tourism.