Flydubai To Launch Premium Economic Class At The Boeing 787 Dreamliner Fleet

JAKARTA - Dubai-based airline United Arab Emirates (UAE) plans to introduce a three-class configuration on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner, including a premium economy seat for the first time, marking the next step in the transition from a low-cost economy class.

"The delivery of the first 787 aircraft is expected to begin at the end of 2027 to serve new routes and increase flight frequency to existing destinations," said flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith at the Dubai Airshow 2025 some time ago.

"We have completed the plan (cabin layout). We will definitely have three classes. We will have premium, and economic classes," he said, quoted by The National December 1.

"I don't have personal experience in sales or operations, but I've heard good news around the world about it," he added.

Al Ghaith estimates that the delivery of the first 787 aircraft will begin at the end of 2027. The airline booked 30 Dreamliners in 2023 during the last Dubai Airshow.

The executive rejected the idea of buying more wide-body aircraft from the two manufacturers and instead focused on narrow-body fleets.

"This is the market niche created for us and we have a lot of potential to be realized," he said.

The flydubai currently has 69 Boeing 737 Max and 27 Boeing 737-800 fleets. From the previous order, the company still plans to receive delivery of 115 more 737 Max aircraft and 30 787-9 aircraft, its first wide-body aircraft.

The airline attracted attention in Dubai Airshow when the total fleet operator consisting of Boeing handed over orders 150 A321 Neo aircraft to the US aircraft manufacturer competitor, Airbus, from Europe. A day later, the flydubai made a temporary order for 75 Boeing 737 Max jets, with options for 75 additional aircraft.

The flydubai decision to select A321 Neo was driven by the availability, reach, and capacity needs of the aircraft. This model allows airlines to fly routes for up to nine hours, two hours longer than the seven-hour 737 Max range they currently fly, and with 15 seats more than 737 Max 10, "said Al Ghaith.

flydubai itself is developing its fleet as preparations move to a new terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport, a mega-hub which will also be the headquarters of its brother Emirates.

The first phase of the construction of this new airport is scheduled to open in 2032 and serve 150 million passengers every year.

The flydubai has taken stepwise steps to move away from the low-cost model it started when it started operating in June 2009.

Previously, the flydubai introduced business class seats, business lounges, announcing all economic class fares now including on-air food and entertainment. This is a gradual and deliberate strategic change.

"It's not like one day you become like this, then turn off the lights, and say I want to be that way," said Al Ghaith.

"It didn't happen like this, it's almost like a trial," he added.

The model evolution is successful, he said. Although the cost of adding premium products is high, the results are also increasing.

It said low-cost airlines in the US and Europe enjoyed a single, borderless, flight market and with harmonized regulations.

"Here, we have limits and we have flight restrictions," said Al Ghaith.

"There is awareness of reality for us. You cannot have an open sky, one market, one law that applies to all," he said.

This is also challenging in this area because of the various needs of passengers.

"Here we have different customers and that's why in my opinion, low costs here don't work," he added.