Flydubai in talks with Boeing, Airbus for next major deal

Flydubai has begun exploring its next major aircraft purchase, a deal that would mark its biggest transaction yet to carry the company well into the next decade, Chief Executive Officer Ghaith Al Ghaith said. The company is evaluating options with both Boeing Co. and Airbus SE, the CEO said in an interview at the Farnborough International Air Show. The airline operates an all-Boeing fleet for now, but significant delays and cancellations with the US company are prompting a rethink of that exclusive arrangement for the next purchase. “We have to make a decision for the next 10 years,” Al Gaith said. A new order would “certainly” be surpassing previous purchases, he said, the largest of which was in 2017, when the carrier snapped up 175 737 aircraft. “The opportunity is always there and there’s a choice for both Airbus and Boeing.” Flydubai is being forced to plan further in advance, which in turn stands to translate into the largest purchase in its 15-year history. Only last week, the airline was informed by Boeing that it wouldn’t receive any additional planes this year, leaving it with a significant shortfall at a time when air travel remains strong. <br/>