Flydubai Places Historic Airbus Order for 150 A321neos at 2025 Dubai Airshow

On the second day of the Dubai Airshow 2025, flydubai announced a significant milestone by ordering up to 150 Airbus A321neo-family aircraft. This marks the airline’s first-ever purchase of Airbus planes and shifts its long-standing focus away from an exclusively Boeing narrowbody fleet.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on November 18, 2025, by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the Chairman of flydubai, alongside Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft. Ghaith Al Ghaith, flydubai’s Chief Executive Officer, was also present at the signing ceremony.

Complementing the Boeing Order Book

This order complements flydubai’s current Boeing backlog, which includes an array of 737 MAX jets and 30 Boeing 787-9s scheduled for delivery starting in 2026.

Sheikh Ahmed expressed that this agreement signifies a crucial progression in flydubai’s journey and aligns with the broader economic and aviation development goals of Dubai. He noted that the A321neo order will play an essential role in the long-term expansion plans of Dubai World Central, aiming to become the largest airport globally.

Deliveries from 2031

Following this announcement, Airbus gained significant attention during the airshow, particularly after Emirates secured an additional order for Boeing 777X aircraft on the first day. This marks Airbus gaining flydubai as a new customer.

Christian Scherer noted that introducing the A321neo to the fleet underscores the value Airbus provides, particularly in terms of range, efficiency, and passenger comfort.

Deliveries of the new aircraft are slated to commence in 2031, aligning flydubai with opportunities for future network and capacity expansion. This order places further demand on Airbus’ A321neo production ramp, which aims to achieve a production rate of 75 aircraft per month by 2027.

AeroTime is providing live coverage of the Dubai Airshow 2025, ensuring timely updates and exclusive insights throughout the event. Be sure to visit booth #294 to connect with our team at the show.