Flydubai to retrofit 21 737 Max jets as fleet passes 100 aircraft

Flydubai will retrofit the cabins of 21 Boeing 737 Max aircraft over the next twelve months, replacing recliner business-class seats with lie-flat ones, the airline said. The same jets will get Boeing's larger "Space" overhead bins, which hold up to six standard cabin bags instead of four.

The work comes as the fleet grows. The Dubai-based carrier expects to add seven 737 Max 9s and four 737 Max 8s by the end of 2026, pushing its total fleet past 100 aircraft within the year. Flydubai said the deliveries replace older aircraft with more fuel-efficient models and add capacity on busy routes.

Chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith called passing the 100-aircraft mark a milestone for the carrier. The incoming jets are central to its long-term fleet planning, he said, giving it room to support expanding operations. He added that the retrofit is a further investment in the airline's onboard product for passengers already flying with it.

Flydubai had previously said the 737 Max 9 would make up more than half of its Max fleet.