Flydubai to launch freighter ops with wet-leased 737s
Flydubai will begin dedicated cargo operations on 1 October 2026 using three Boeing 737-800 freighters wet-leased from SolitAir, marking its first step
Flydubai will launch its first dedicated freighter operation on 1 October 2026. The Dubai-based carrier will wet-lease three Boeing 737-800 freighters from fellow Dubai operator SolitAir.
The aircraft will be based at Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) and will each offer a payload capacity of approximately 23 tonnes. This move represents a significant shift for flydubai Cargo, which has until now relied solely on the belly-hold capacity of the airline's passenger Boeing 737 fleet.
The wet-lease arrangement
The three freighters will be introduced under a wet-lease agreement with SolitAir. This means SolitAir will provide the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance. Consequently, the aircraft are expected to retain SolitAir's livery and identity, at least initially, rather than appearing in flydubai's colors.
SolitAir operates a small fleet of converted Boeing 737-800 freighters from Dubai World Central. The airline's current active fleet includes several UAE-registered aircraft, though flydubai has not specified which individual airframes will be assigned to its operation.
Potential aircraft in the SolitAir fleet that could be used include:
| Registration | Type |
|---|---|
| A6-SHA | Boeing 737-8FE(BDSF) |
| A6-SHB | Boeing 737-8FE(BDSF) |
| A6-SHC | Boeing 737-8AS(BCF) |
| A6-SHO | Boeing 737-8BK(BCF) |
Network and operations strategy
Flydubai has not published a fixed timetable for the freighter services. The airline states the aircraft will support a mix of scheduled freight operations and ad-hoc charter flights. The initial focus will be on high-demand regional sectors.
The 737 freighters will be capable of carrying specialized cargo, including pharmaceuticals, perishables, live animals, express shipments, aerospace components, and dangerous goods. This dedicated capacity will augment the airline's existing cargo reach, which already covers its extensive passenger network spanning Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Passenger fleet expansion continues
The cargo announcement coincides with continued growth in flydubai's passenger operations. As of September 2026, the airline's network exceeds 125 destinations across 56 countries, supported by roughly 2,200 weekly flights.
The airline's fleet has also passed the 100-aircraft milestone. Eleven new Boeing 737 MAX jets are scheduled for delivery in 2026, comprising seven 737 MAX 9s and four MAX 8s. Also, the carrier has placed a major order for 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and has an agreement for up to 150 Airbus A321neo aircraft.
Future freighter conversion plans
The SolitAir wet lease may only be the beginning of flydubai's dedicated cargo ambitions. The airline says it intends to evaluate passenger-to-freighter conversions of its own aircraft from 2029 onwards.
This opens the possibility that older Boeing 737-800s from flydubai's passenger fleet could eventually be converted for cargo service as they are replaced by new 737 MAX deliveries. Such a move would allow the airline to develop a dedicated cargo fleet using an aircraft type it operates extensively. For plane spotters, this long-term plan raises the prospect of eventually seeing genuine flydubai-liveried Boeing 737-800 freighters.
