flydubai will begin dedicated freighter operations from Al Maktoum International Airport on October 1, adding three Boeing 737-800 cargo aircraft as it broadens its freight business beyond belly-hold capacity on passenger flights.The Dubai-based airline said the aircraft will enter its fleet under a wet-lease agreement with SolitAir, giving flydubai Cargo dedicated main-deck capacity for the first time. Each freighter will provide up to 23,000 kg of additional payload capacity per flight, complementing cargo carried across flydubai’s existing fleet of 98 Boeing 737 passenger aircraft.
The wet lease means SolitAir will provide the aircraft with crews and support, allowing flydubai to establish a cargo fleet without waiting for freighters to be acquired or converted. SolitAir operates from Dubai South, placing the aircraft alongside flydubai Cargo’s new base at DWC.
The new operation will be based at Dubai World Central, where flydubai Cargo will have dedicated airside infrastructure and direct access to the multimodal logistics network in Dubai South. The carrier said the arrangement will support both scheduled point-to-point freighter services and ad-hoc charter flights across a network spanning more than 125 destinations.
Initial services are expected to focus on high-demand regional markets, with frequencies increasing as operational capacity develops. The dedicated aircraft will also allow the airline to handle cargo categories requiring specialised treatment, including aerospace components, temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, perishables, live animals, express courier shipments and dangerous goods.
For shippers, dedicated freighters offer advantages over passenger-aircraft belly capacity because space is not dependent on passenger schedules or baggage loads. Main-deck aircraft can also accommodate larger consignments and cargo requiring controlled handling, giving the airline scope to target sectors where speed, reliability and shipment integrity are central requirements.
Chief Executive Ghaith Al Ghaith said the move reflected flydubai’s effort to strengthen trade connectivity and expand its logistics capabilities. He said Dubai’s position as a major centre for e-commerce, trade and logistics, together with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, was creating new opportunities for companies seeking access to global markets.
The freighter launch represents a significant change in flydubai’s cargo model. Until now, the airline’s freight activity has relied mainly on space in the lower holds of passenger aircraft. Dedicated freighters will allow the carrier to offer guaranteed main-deck capacity, more flexible schedules and handling options for high-value or sensitive shipments that cannot always be accommodated efficiently on passenger services.
Chief Commercial Officer Hamad Obaidalla said customers increasingly require dependable main-deck capacity, specialised handling and greater scheduling flexibility as trade patterns evolve. He said establishing Al Maktoum International Airport as the freighter hub would connect commercial partners directly with Dubai’s wider logistics ecosystem.
The decision to base the operation at DWC separates freighter activity from passenger services at Dubai International, while retaining access to Dubai South’s logistics links. This allows cargo arriving by air to move into warehousing, distribution and onward transport networks.
The operation will cover markets across Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Central and Southeast Europe, the Gulf, the wider Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia. flydubai said the initial phase has been timed to provide additional cargo capacity ahead of the fourth-quarter peak trading period.
The airline also expects its freight capability to grow as it adds larger aircraft to its passenger fleet. flydubai has 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners on order, which are expected to provide substantially more belly-hold cargo capacity once deliveries begin. The carrier has also said it will evaluate converting passenger aircraft into freighters from 2029, indicating that dedicated cargo aircraft could become a longer-term part of its fleet strategy.
The expansion places flydubai more directly in the dedicated air-freight market while retaining the network advantages of its passenger operation. Its route system has expanded to more than 125 destinations, giving the cargo division access to a broad range of markets that can support both scheduled freight movements and time-sensitive charter demand.
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