flydubai will expand its fleet to more than 100 aircraft during 2026, with the delivery of an additional 11 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. At the same time, the airline will launch a new cabin retrofit programme in September, increasing the number of lie-flat Business Class seats and installing larger overhead bins across its existing fleet.

According to information published by the airline on 15 September, seven Boeing 737-9 MAX and four 737-8 MAX aircraft will join the fleet by the end of the year. The deliveries form part of flydubai’s long-term fleet renewal plan, which includes replacing older aircraft, increasing capacity on routes with stronger demand and further expanding its network.

flydubai’s Boeing 737-9 MAX is configured with 16 Business Class and 156 Economy Class seats. By comparison, some of the airline’s 737-8 MAX aircraft currently feature 10 Business Class seats. The additional premium capacity is expected to allow the carrier to better respond to demand for Business Class on selected international routes.

Alongside the new deliveries, flydubai will retrofit 21 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft over the next 12 months that are currently equipped with reclining Business Class seats. These will be replaced with flydubai’s lie-flat seats, which can be converted into a fully flat sleeping surface.

The retrofit will also include replacing the existing overhead storage compartments with Boeing’s larger Space Bins. Each bin can accommodate up to six standard-sized carry-on bags, compared with four in conventional overhead bins. The upgrade is expected to increase available cabin storage and make the boarding process more efficient.

The new programme builds on flydubai’s previous multimillion-dollar investment in refurbishing the cabins of its previous-generation Boeing 737-800 fleet. Those aircraft received new lie-flat Business Class seats, new Economy Class seats and upgraded inflight entertainment systems.

flydubai said the aim of the new investment is to gradually improve product consistency across the entire fleet, regardless of whether passengers are travelling on newly delivered or existing aircraft.

“Growing our fleet beyond 100 aircraft is a significant milestone for flydubai and shows how far we have come. These deliveries are central to our long-term fleet strategy, providing the capacity and flexibility to support our growing operations,” said flydubai Chief Executive Officer Ghaith Al Ghaith.

He added that the airline’s investment extends beyond new aircraft and also includes upgrading the existing fleet in order to provide a more consistent and improved passenger experience.

The fleet expansion and cabin retrofit programme form part of flydubai’s wider investment strategy, which also includes technology, staff training and engineering infrastructure. The airline is thereby preparing additional capacity to support the continued expansion of its network from Dubai.