Flydubai shifting away from low-cost carrier model

Flydubai is leaving its low-cost roots behind, according to Chairman and Chief Executive of the Emirates Group, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, on a day the airline announced it would be offering Starlink WiFi on its aircraft and also placed its first Airbus order of 150 A321 neo aircraft.

“They started as a low-cost airline, that is what we needed at the time,” H.H. Maktoum told The Hindu on the sidelines of Dubai Airshow 2025 in response to a question about the transformation underway at flydubai which also recently announced that it would be offering complimentary meals and WiFi to its economy class passengers on top of business class where these were already being offered, and has plans for inducting Boeing 787 aircraft from 2027.

The “luxury side” of Dubai and the changes in the past 15 years since the launch of flydubai in March 2010 compel changes at the airline, he explained.

“We asked, should we just say that we are a low-cost [airline] and we shouldn’t really change anything? And maybe leave cash on the table or we should really work and make sure that we also earn that European reputation” he said about standing out in the European market.

The Starlink WiFi that will allow streaming Internet, making video calls will be installed on 100 aircraft of flydubai in 2026. The announcement comes a day after Emirates announced its Starlink offering for 232 aircraft in the next two years.

The Chairman also spoke about the growing harmony between the product offerings of Emirates and flydubai.

“To me, they are both one team. [There are] two managements, but] we have one owner at the end of the day. And they should be working together to ensure that they do the best for Dubai” .

The Airbus order of 150 A321 NEO valued at $24 billion also comprises option to purchase 100 more of these aircraft. The move signals a diversification of flydubai’s fleet of narrow-body fleet which up until now comprises an all Boeing 737 fleet of total 95 aircraft, including 68 MAXs. The airline also has an order of 30 Boeing 787s to be delivered from 2027.

(The journalist is covering Dubai Airshow 2025 on the invitation of flydubai)