- Emirates placed another widebody order for eight Airbus A350-900s, bringing its total show commitment to $41.4 billion.
- flydubai announced a landmark commitment for 75 Boeing 737 MAX jets, expanding its narrowbody fleet with $13 billion in value.
- flydubai confirmed its new 787 Dreamliners will feature a premium economy cabin and Panasonic’s Astrovia IFE solution.
- The dual commitment to Airbus and Boeing ensures the carriers have the most modern, efficient fleets for future growth.
Day three of the Dubai Airshow 2025 was nothing short of spectacular, marked by a coordinated, massive investment by UAE-based carriers that underscored the nation’s unwavering commitment to aviation growth. Emirates and flydubai commanded the headlines, collectively committing over $54 billion (based on list prices) to new aircraft. This strategic expenditure on both widebody and narrowbody fleets ensures the airlines have the most modern, efficient aircraft to drive future connectivity and redefine the passenger experience on a truly aspirational scale.
Emirates followed up its massive Boeing 777-9 order from day one with an equally significant commitment to its European partner, Airbus. The carrier announced an order for eight more examples of the Airbus A350-900, taking its total commitment for the type to 73 units.
Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates’ Chair and CEO, highlighted the scale of the investment: “Together with the additional Boeing 777-9 order announced earlier this week, Emirates now has a total of 375 units of the latest widebody aircraft on its orderbook. This is a massive investment in our future.” This dual-platform strategy ensures that Emirates remains a global leader in high-capacity, long-haul air travel.
If Emirates led the spending, flydubai dominated the news cycle on Wednesday with four distinct announcements that signal a profound strategic transformation.
First, following its historic MoU for 150 Airbus A321neos yesterday, flydubai committed to further narrowbody fleet growth by signing an MoU with Boeing for 75 Boeing 737 MAX family jets (valued at $13 billion). This commitment to both major manufacturers ensures its fleet remains agile, cost-effective, and robust.
The airline also focused heavily on the onboard experience for its incoming widebody fleet of 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners:
- Premium Economy: CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith confirmed the 787-9s will feature a premium economy cabin as part of a three-class layout, meeting the trendy demand for upgraded comfort.
- In-Flight Entertainment: Panasonic Avionics announced flydubai selected its ‘Astrovia’ solution to provide cutting-edge in-flight entertainment on the Dreamliners.
Finally, the carrier signed comprehensive training agreements with Boeing for both its pilots and maintenance staff, securing the essential infrastructure to support its massive fleet expansion.
Beyond the UAE giants, Airbus continued to tie up smaller but strategically significant deals, reinforcing its drive toward fleet modernization. This included providing Silk Way West Airlines with two more A350F cargo carriers, and securing Buraq Air as a new customer with an MoU for 10 narrowbody twinjets from the Airbus A320neo family.
Day three of the Dubai Airshow confirmed a strong, vibrant commitment to the future of air travel, with the UAE leading the way through strategic, multi-billion-dollar investments designed to drive global connectivity and passenger satisfaction.
Keep following the Dubai Airshow’s final days for more deals shaping the future of global aviation and Middle Eastern connectivity!
