Flydubai will receive 12 new aircraft this year, though it remains 20 planes behind its original delivery projections, the airline’s chief executive said Thursday. The Dubai-based carrier has taken delivery of seven Boeing 737 MAX 8s in 2025, with five more expected before year-end, bringing its fleet to 93 aircraft.
In a report on Khaleej Times, CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said the deliveries are part of a backlog that has been delayed in recent years, impacting the airline’s expansion plans. Airlines in the UAE and globally have faced delays in aircraft deliveries, with Flydubai noting last year that Boeing’s updated schedule had significantly affected its growth strategy.
Despite the challenges, Flydubai has added 11 new destinations this year, including Antalya, Al Alamein, Damascus and Peshawar. Four more European destinations — Chisinau, Iasi, Vilnius and Riga — are scheduled to launch between September and December, expanding the carrier’s network to more than 135 destinations in 57 countries.
Financing for the first seven aircraft delivered this year has come from a mix of Islamic financing through Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, conventional debt from the National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah, and sale-leaseback agreements with JP Lease Products & Services and JLPS Ireland Limited. Al Ghaith said the additional aircraft will help the airline open new routes, optimize operations and strengthen Dubai’s role as an international aviation hub.
