It's Final: Flydubai Chooses Engine to Will Fly Its Fleet of Wide-Body Aircraft

Big announcements keep dropping at the the Dubai Air Show, which is shaping up to be one of the most impressive in recent years. Just hours earlier, Emirates announced it would boost its 777X Fleet with a massive $38 billion deal.

Now, Flydubai, Emirates' little sister, has made a similarly important announcement regarding its development plan. The company informed that it has inked an agreement with GE Aerospace to purchase 60 GEnx 1B engines to power the company's fleet of Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The agreement also includes replacement engines and a long-term services package, as part of the company's preparations to launch long-range flights.

The company says the move fits into Flydubai 's growth strategy and network expansion plans. Since its inception in 2008, the company has developed rapidly, and currently operates flights to more than 135 destinations in 57 countries. The integration of the Dreamliner aircraft will allow it to increase capacity on existing routes and offer new long-haul destinations.

According to the company's announcement, the choice of GEnx engines was intended to provide the company with reliable performance and high fuel efficiency. The engines in question are considered the most sought-after in the aviation world with 3,600 active orders.

When Will the Planes Arrive?

Initially, Flydubai announced its first order for 787s at the 2023 air show, with the expectation that the planes would meet demand and allow the company greater scope for operations.

However, the company is not yet ready to provide any additional  information indicating the delivery date of the first aircraft of this model. The company, like many others, is suffering from delays in aircraft deliveries.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of Flydubai: "

Over the years, flydubai has established itself as a key player in the aviation industry, driven by a vision to make travel more accessible and convenient through Dubai’s global aviation hub. The performance and durability of our engines play an integral role in the success of our operations and fleet expansion plans, especially as we prepare to welcome the Boeing 787 aircraft to our fleet in the coming years.

We look forward to a long and successful partnership with GE Aerospace as we embark on the next chapter of growth."