Anabelle Colaco
19 Nov 2025

DUBAI, U.A.E.: Airbus is on the verge of scoring a breakthrough in the narrow-body market, with flydubai preparing to hand the European manufacturer the bulk of a significant aircraft order at this year's Dubai Airshow, according to people familiar with the talks.

The budget carrier is nearing a deal for roughly 100 Airbus A321neo jets, the sources said, marking the first time flydubai would buy from Airbus after years of sourcing exclusively from Boeing. The airline is also in negotiations for a smaller purchase of several dozen Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

Airbus' share of the combined order could exceed 100 jets, though the final total depends on negotiations expected to continue right up to the start of the November 17 to 21 aviation summit.

Airbus and Boeing declined to comment. Flydubai, which currently has 175 Boeing MAX jets in its fleet or on order, along with 30 Boeing 787s, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

If concluded, the move would give Airbus its first foothold inside one of the world's most important 737 MAX customers. Analysts say that securing part of flydubai's business would strengthen Airbus' already strong position in the global market for the largest and most in-demand single-aisle aircraft.

Despite shifting part of its future fleet to Airbus, flydubai would still maintain a broadly balanced overall fleet due to its substantial existing Boeing commitments, the sources said.

The airline has previously signaled that it was preparing for its biggest aircraft purchase to date — one that would exceed the 175 MAX jets it ordered in 2017. With options factored in, flydubai could gain access to hundreds of new aircraft during this week's negotiations, industry sources said.

Reuters had reported on November 14 that Airbus was expected to win a share of the carrier's business for the first time.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stephanie Pope said that the company would focus primarily on discussions with airlines about its path to recovery from recent corporate crises, rather than prioritizing new aircraft orders at the show.

Analysts have expected Airbus to perform strongly at the Dubai Airshow, particularly after a high-profile visit to the Gulf by U.S. President Donald Trump in May led to several significant Boeing order announcements that might otherwise have featured at the region's premier aviation event.

Airbus said on November 16 it anticipated the Middle East's aircraft fleet would more than double to 3,700 planes by 2044, underscoring the long-term demand driving this year's high-stakes negotiations.