flydubai has confirmed that its upcoming fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners will feature a new Premium Economy cabin, marking a pivotal evolution in the airline’s onboard product strategy as it prepares for widebody operations for the first time. The aircraft form part of the 30-strong order placed at the Dubai Airshow 2023, a landmark deal that expands the carrier’s fleet beyond the narrowbody Boeing 737 family.
Deliveries of the 787-9s are scheduled to begin later this decade, giving Flydubai long-range capability and higher payload capacity to serve denser routes, expand frequencies, and tap new intercontinental markets.
flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith confirmed that the airline has finalised the Dreamliner’s layout, which will include Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy Class, the first time flydubai has introduced a three-cabin structure. He added that while Premium Economy is new for the airline, customer demand for a mid-tier product is strong across global long-haul markets.
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For flydubai, traditionally seen as a low-cost carrier in its early years, this signals a continued shift toward a more hybrid, customer-centric service model, one that blends value-driven fares with a more sophisticated cabin offering.
The inclusion of Premium Economy slots by flydubai into the same product space occupied by full-service Gulf carriers, including sister airline Emirates, which introduced its own Premium Economy cabin in 2021. For flydubai, the addition is especially significant as it prepares to operate widebody aircraft on long-haul routes for the first time.
Premium Economy will:
- Offer a differentiated experience for travellers unwilling to pay for Business but seeking more comfort than standard Economy
- Strengthen Flydubai’s appeal to transfer passengers connecting via Dubai
- Align product standards more closely with Emirates, as both carriers increasingly coordinate schedules and network flows
- Position the airline competitively in markets where mid-tier cabins have become a key revenue generator
flydubai had a strong presence at the recent Dubai Airshow 2025, where it announced several major fleet and propulsion agreements that underscore its long-haul expansion plans.
Most notably, the airline firmed up a long-term partnership with GE Aerospace, securing 60 GEnx-1B engines for its entire 787-9 order, covering both production and spare units. The agreement includes long-term support, enabling flydubai to build the maintenance and operational ecosystem required for sustained widebody operations.
The introduction of Premium Economy on the 787-9 will be a defining moment for Flydubai’s cabin evolution, signalling a new phase in which product differentiation and passenger comfort take a more central role in the airline’s long-haul growth strategy.
