The Dubai Air Show is this week and local carrier FlyDubai has made a massive splash with aircraft orders with both Airbus and Boeing.
FlyDubai Has Made Two Massive Aircraft Orders
Earlier this week FlyDubai, an all Boeing 737 operator, made waves when it ordered 150 Airbus A320 family aircraft. An order of this magnitude would almost triple the carrier’s fleet, FlyDubai currently has a fleet of 88 Boeing 737 aircraft.
While the switch from an all-Boeing fleet is somewhat surprising, given the carrier’s close ties with Emirates, it doesn’t seem out of the ordinary that they would diversify the fleet in an effort to grow their operation as quickly as possible.
Christian Scherer, CEO of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, said this about the order:
“We welcome FlyDubai, one of the Middle East’s most ambitious and fast-growing carriers, as a new Airbus customer. The decision to invest in and introduce the A321neo into its fleet is another endorsement of the added value Airbus brings in terms of range, efficiency and passenger comfort. We look forward to supporting flydubai as it enables new growth and possibilities with our aircraft.”
No sooner than the Airbus news hit the market, FlyDubai turned around and ordered up to 150 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The airline has signed an agreement for 75 orders and 75 options that can be spread across the MAX -8, -9, and -10 aircraft depending on the carrier’s needs.
The Chairman of FlyDubai, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, said this about the carrier’s order:
“We are pleased to announce a new aircraft order agreement with Boeing. Looking ahead, proactive fleet planning is essential to ensuring we are well-placed to meet the rising demand for travel, a demand we are confident will continue to grow. Anticipating future needs is a defining factor in the success of any airline and today’s announcement reflects our commitment to that principle.”
The Dubai based carrier clearly has growth on its mind but there is still one major question that remains to be answered.
What is FlyDubai Going to do With All of These Planes?
Based on its current fleet size, and the number of planes the airline has on order, FlyDubai appears to be attempting to roughly quadruple its fleet in a very short amount of time.
While I’ve flown with FlyDubai in the past and had a very enjoyable flight, I can’t for the life of me figure out what the airline plans to do with all of these jets. FlyDubai, while a separate legal entity, essentially operates as a subsidiary of Emirates. It flies secondary routes within the Gulf, Europe, and Asia, connecting passengers to long-haul Emirates flights.
Over the years, FlyDubai has evolved to a full service carrier that charges full service prices. The value proposition from its Emirates partnership may erode as the airline adds new routes that cut into the Emirates network.
While I am always happy to see airlines expand, I can’t figure out how this will change the landscape of aviation among the Gulf carriers, especially in Dubai.
Summary
During this week’s Dubai Air Show, FlyDubai made waves announcing plans to purchase up to three hundred Boeing and Airbus aircraft. These orders will more than quadruple the Dubai based carrier’s fleet, leading to questions about how the airline will deploy all of the excess capacity.