Boeing has secured a significant provisional order for 75 of its 737 MAX jets from flydubai, marking a bold move at the Dubai Airshow. This order comes just a day after flydubai, a long-standing Boeing customer, placed an order for 150 A321neo aircraft with Airbus, a fierce competitor in the aviation market.
In a statement, flydubai confirmed that the new order includes options for an additional 75 Boeing jets, allowing them to choose from three variants of the 737 MAX—MAX 8, MAX 9, or the yet-to-be-certified MAX 10—at a later date.
The shift towards Airbus had been a hot topic at the Middle East’s largest aviation event, held at the site of flydubai’s future home airport, scheduled to open by 2032. Boeing had been actively negotiating to secure this deal, aiming to reclaim a portion of its market share in a region where flydubai is a vital operator of the 737 MAX.
CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith expressed his commitment to Boeing, referring to it as “my home.” He conveyed confidence in the company’s ability to rebound from recent challenges, although he noted that the decision to order Airbus planes was largely influenced by their superior range and size.
During the first day of the Dubai Airshow, Boeing made headlines with a surprise $38 billion order for the 777X from Emirates, another pivotal airline in the region. Despite the ongoing development delays, Emirates continues to invest in Boeing’s offerings to meet rising demand. Airline president Tim Clark indicated that the A350-1000 from Airbus was not yet a viable option for their operations, citing concerns over engine performance in the harsh Gulf climate. However, he praised the smaller A350-900, which Emirates began integrating into its fleet last year.
On Wednesday, Emirates also revealed an order for eight additional Airbus A350-900s, which had previously been listed as an anonymous transaction by Airbus. The decision to publicly announce this order during the Dubai Airshow was interpreted as a supportive gesture following the significant commitment to the Boeing 777X.
The air show also highlighted a continuing appetite for freighter aircraft, with Azerbaijan’s Silk Way West Airlines signing for two more A350F freighters. In a separate development, Libya’s Buraq Air inked a provisional deal to acquire ten A320neo passenger jets from Airbus, further showcasing the dynamic nature of the current aviation market.
