DUBAI: Low-cost carrier flydubai has signed a memorandum of understanding with Boeing for 75 firm 737 MAX aircraft, valued at USD 13 billion.
The deal, announced at the Dubai Airshow, also includes options for 75 additional aircraft.
Flydubai chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum stated that reliable aircraft availability and timely deliveries are vital to the ongoing growth of the industry.
He added that this agreement ensures the airline remains well-positioned for future growth.
This order follows flydubai’s announcement a day earlier of a preliminary deal with Airbus for 150 A321neo jets worth USD 24 billion.
The back-to-back announcements mean the Dubai-based group has announced initial orders for more than 200 planes from both manufacturers in just two days.
Flydubai currently operates a fleet of more than 90 Boeing 737 aircraft.
The agreement provides a significant boost to Boeing as it seeks to recover from a difficult period involving crashes, court cases, and delivery delays.
Boeing recently reported a third-quarter loss of USD 5.4 billion, partly due to delayed certification of its 777X aircraft.
In a separate development, flydubai also signed an agreement with SpaceX to introduce Starlink satellite internet across its entire fleet.
The announcement comes after Emirates, considered flydubai’s sister airline, ordered 65 Boeing jets in a USD 38 billion deal earlier in the week.
