Boeing and flydubai finalized the purchase deal of 175 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes making it the largest single-aisle jet order in Middle East history. The deal is valued at $27 billion which includes options for an additional 50 jets.
This mega deal was announced at the 2017 Dubai Airshow in November and it pushed the total MAX orders above 4,200 since the program was launched in 2011.
CEO of flydubai said that it was their largest order in eight-year history and also their third order with Boeing whose aircraft have given them the ability to carry 44 million passengers since the airline began operations.
Flydubai with up to 296 aircraft on order has become one of the world’s top ten airlines in terms of order backlog and is continuously trying to enhance the connectivity of Dubai’s aviation hub.
flydubai, an all-Boeing operator, first ordered the 737 MAX in 2013 with a purchase of 75 jets. The carrier has taken delivery of five MAX airplanes from that order.
The Boeing 737 MAC has racked up 640 net orders this year making it the best-selling airplane in Boeing history. The MAX family of airplanes offers seating for about 130 to just over 200 passengers with a range of 3,200 to 3,800 nautical miles. The new aircraft order would support flydubai’s continued expansion within a geographic area that is home to 2.5 billion people.
Budget carrier flydubai will have a fleet of 61 next-generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft and Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft by the end of the year. In addition, there is a pipeline of 70 aircraft due for delivery by 2023.
Flydubai operates flights to various destinations around the world including Africa, Central Asia, Europe, Middle East and South Asia. The airline operates scheduled flights to Tribhuvan International Airport facilitating Nepali migrant workers and tourists with budget airfare.
