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( YYZ ) and Newark Liberty ( EWR ), bridging toward a potential entrance into Star Alliance .
In regard to which Dreamliner variant was under consideration to join Flydubai ’ s fleet , Al Ghaith had no doubts about the -9 .
“ Many airlines start adding the -8s to their fleets and gradually implement the Dreamliner ’ s larger variants . Flydubai could have done that ,” he said , “ but , ultimately , we were aiming for the -9s as they better suit our needs from the very beginning .”
In addition to added cargo capacity , the Boeing 787-9 can accommodate more than 290 passengers and has a range of 14,010km ( 7,565 nautical miles ). A fleet of 30 long-haul aircraft , enhanced by a large regional fleet , can seriously raise the competition in the region .
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THE PASSENGER CABIN
The Boeing 787 is usually configured in a 3-3-3 layout in Economy Class and , in most cases , a 1-2-1 one in Business Class . Operating the 737 MAX on flights up to seven hours has been good preparation for Flydubai . Back in 2013 , the airline introduced a Business Class cabin and has updated it multiple times to reflect its network needs . Today , passengers can fly a recliner or a lie-flat bed cabin , depending on aircraft configuration .
Airways had the chance to fly both cabins en route to Dubai for the 2023 Dubai Airshow , and we were particularly impressed by the recliner seat , which offers excellent comfort and privacy . The same applies to the Economy Class : Flydubai sports Recaro seats with a 32 ” seat pitch ,
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beating some legacy carriers operating long-haul networks .
In May 2023 , Flydubai announced the introduction of a new premium cabin for the Boeing 737 MAX on its longest routes . The airline is set to become the launch customer of the Business Suite . This ultrapremium product will be rolled out in 2024 on some selected routes and promises to feature one of the best — if not the best — seats on any Boeing 737 . The design features direct aisle access , a sliding door , and a lieflat bed in Business Class . While this product would make any single-aisle aircraft stand out , it would also beat most current long-haul standards , including Emirates ’ old products on the 777 .
Should Flydubai decide to opt for the Business Suite on its 787s , as would be understandable ,
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4 Rendering of Flydubai ’ s B787-9 flying above the Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah . // IMAGE : FLYDUBAI |