flydubai deploys three freighters from October

Arabian Post reports that flydubai will commence dedicated freighter operations starting October 1, bolstering its freight business by adding three Boeing 737-800 cargo aircraft. These aircraft were acquired through a wet-lease agreement with SolitAir and will be stationed at Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central. Each freighter boasts a payload capacity of up to 23,000kg per flight, complementing the existing cargo carried in the belly holds of flydubai's 98 Boeing 737 passenger aircraft.

This move provides flydubai with dedicated main-deck cargo capacity for the first time, marking the initial phase of a broader expansion of its freight operations. The airline anticipates increased demand for its services ahead of the fourth-quarter peak season, when e-commerce, express delivery, and other freight sectors typically witness a rise in traffic.

flydubai intends to operate both scheduled point-to-point cargo services and charter flights across a vast network that spans over 125 destinations in Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Central and Southeast Europe, the Gulf, the wider Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The dedicated freighters will enable the airline to manage cargo categories that necessitate more specialized handling than conventional passenger aircraft belly freight.

Initial services will primarily focus on high-demand regional routes, with frequencies expected to escalate as the airline's operational capacity expands. However, the airline has not yet disclosed a detailed schedule of freighter destinations or flight frequencies.

flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith stated that this cargo expansion aims to reinforce Dubai's status as a major center for e-commerce, trade, and logistics, in line with the emirate's economic development agenda. By expanding flydubai's cargo offerings and its network of codeshare and interline partners, the airline intends to offer additional avenues for companies transporting goods between regional and international markets.

The decision to base the freighters at Al Maktoum International Airport provides flydubai Cargo with access to dedicated airside infrastructure and multimodal transport links within Dubai South, a region being developed as a major freight and aviation hub. This location also offers road connections and access to warehousing and distribution facilities.

Chief Commercial Officer Hamad Obaidalla highlighted that freight customers increasingly demand guaranteed main-deck capacity, flexible schedules, and specialized handling. By opening more than 100 underserved markets since 2009, flydubai has established a robust network that can now be leveraged to support regional freight flows.

The integration of dedicated cargo aircraft at DWC will enable commercial partners to utilize Dubai's logistics infrastructure while accessing services tailored for high-value and sensitive shipments.

The three leased Boeing 737-800 freighters will operate alongside flydubai's passenger fleet, rather than replacing its existing belly-hold cargo business. This combination allows the airline to allocate routine freight to passenger services while assigning larger, specialized, or time-sensitive consignments to dedicated aircraft as needed.

flydubai anticipates further growth in cargo capacity following the arrival of 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which are part of the airline's long-haul expansion plans. These wide-body aircraft will provide greater belly-hold space compared to the airline's current all-Boeing 737 passenger fleet, enabling the transportation of more freight alongside passengers and baggage.

Additionally, flydubai is exploring the possibility of converting passenger aircraft into freighters from 2029, potentially granting the airline owned cargo capacity beyond the initial wet-leased operation. A decision on the number of aircraft that could be converted and the timetable for any such program has not been announced.

Under a wet lease arrangement, SolitAir, based in Dubai South, supplies the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance, allowing flydubai to augment its capacity without establishing all of these functions independently.