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flydubai will launch dedicated freighter operations from Al Maktoum International Airport on October 1, the carrier said in a statement. The initial phase will see three Boeing 737-800 freighters enter service under a wet-lease agreement with SolitAir, a Dubai South-based air cargo services company. Each aircraft will deliver an additional 23,000 kilograms of payload capacity per flight while the airline prepares for further growth in its cargo business.
These dedicated freighters will supplement the cargo already transported in the belly holds of flydubai’s fleet of 98 Boeing 737 passenger aircraft. The introduction of main-deck capacity ahead of the traditional fourth-quarter peak season represents the first step in a broader dedicated cargo fleet expansion. flydubai indicated that significantly larger capacity increases will materialise with the delivery of its ordered Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
The freighters will operate from Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as DWC, where the carrier will benefit from dedicated airside infrastructure and multimodal connectivity through Dubai South. This basing decision aligns with Dubai’s ambitions to strengthen its position as a global logistics hub. The airline’s cargo division has been steadily building its capabilities in recent years through digital partnerships and network growth.
According to an Airbus Global Market Forecast, the worldwide fleet of dedicated freighter aircraft is expected to rise 45 percent to 3,420 by 2044, driven by air cargo demand growing at 3.3 percent annually. This expansion reflects broader trends in e-commerce, perishables and trade that flydubai aims to serve more effectively with its new freighters. The carrier’s move comes as several regional operators including Saudia Cargo and Emirates SkyCargo also scale up their dedicated freighter fleets.
flydubai currently maintains cargo services across a network of more than 125 destinations spanning Africa, Central Asia, Europe, the GCC, the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia. The new freighters will provide both scheduled and ad-hoc charter capabilities on these routes. The airline has previously partnered with platforms such as cargo.one to digitise its cargo sales and improve access for freight forwarders.
The dedicated operations mark a strategic evolution for flydubai, which launched its cargo division over a decade ago and has since focused on connecting underserved markets. Industry data from the carrier shows it operates an average of 370 flights daily from Dubai International, supporting high-frequency belly cargo alongside the new main-deck services. Further fleet decisions, including potential passenger-to-freighter conversions, are under evaluation from 2029 onward.
