flydubai in Negotiations with Airbus and Boeing for New Aircraft Deal by End of 2023

flydubai hopes to complete a deal for new aircraft by the end of 2023, or even in time for the Dubai Airshow, which is held in November.

According to the National News, the airline is in negotiations with the two largest plane manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing.

Although the airline is currently an all Boeing fleet, the carrier is interested in Airbus A320neo models, as well as the Boeing 737 MAX.

Details about the potential purchase of new jets were revealed by the head of flydubai, Ghaith Al Ghaith, at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai on May 1, 2023.

“We are working very closely to try and sign some deals, hopefully by the Dubai Airshow,” Al Ghaith said. “At the end of the day, the aircraft manufacturing market is so competitive, it’s a seller’s market right now […] I would love to do something by the end of the year, hopefully before the air show.”

Al Ghaith expressed caution over “threats” that can arise by increasing the fleet size, such as the price of jet fuel and large backlogs with the manufacturers.

“We have a good pipeline of aircraft coming, but in our business, we don’t just stop there, we have to buy aircraft at the right time to get the best price possible,” Al Ghaith said.

At the Arabian Travel Market flydubai also revealed plans for new business class suites aboard some of its aircraft.

The new suites are designed to provide the same levels of comfort onboard single-aisle Boeing 737s that are found on wide-body aircraft.