flydubai, the Dubai-based airline, and GE Aerospace announced today a new order for 60 GEnx-1B engines to power the carrier’s first widebody fleet of 30 Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
The deal, signed during the 2025 Dubai Airshow, also covers spare engines and a comprehensive long-term services agreement to support the launch of flydubai’s upcoming long-haul network.
This partnership reinforces flydubai’s long-term growth strategy and its continued network expansion, enabling the airline to boost capacity on existing routes while meeting rising passenger demand. Since its launch in 2008, flydubai has expanded rapidly and now operates to more than 135 destinations across 57 countries, with long-haul services soon to be added.
Choosing the GEnx-1B engine highlights flydubai’s trust in GE Aerospace’s proven technology, recognized for its strong performance, durability and fuel efficiency—features essential to supporting the airline’s growth across the region’s diverse operating conditions.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai, stated: “Over the years, flydubai has grown into a major player in the aviation sector, driven by our mission to make travel easier and more accessible through Dubai’s global hub. Engine performance and reliability are vital to our operational success and fleet expansion, especially as we prepare to introduce the Boeing 787 to our fleet. We look forward to a long and successful collaboration with GE Aerospace as we enter this next phase.”
Russell Stokes, President and CEO of Commercial Engines and Services at GE Aerospace, said: “We are grateful for flydubai’s confidence in GE Aerospace as the airline moves into its next stage of growth. The GEnx engines will provide the reliability, efficiency and durability needed to power flydubai’s first widebody fleet. We are thrilled to support the airline’s expansion.”
The airline first announced its widebody order of 30 Boeing 787-9s at the 2023 Dubai Airshow, marking a diversification from its all-737 fleet. The highly efficient 787 Dreamliner will allow flydubai to broaden its reach and deliver the right product to meet evolving market and customer demands.
Since entering service in 2011, the GEnx engine family has logged more than 62 million flight hours and has become GE Aerospace’s fastest-selling high-thrust engine, with over 3,600 engines in service or on order, including spare units. The GEnx powers two-thirds of all Boeing 787s currently flying, and like all GE Aerospace commercial engines, it is certified to operate on today’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blends.
(Inputs from WAM)
