flydubai
United Arab EmiratesLow-cost carrierSince 2008
flydubai is a Dubai-based low-cost airline owned by the Government of Dubai, operating an all-Boeing 737 fleet from Dubai International Airport. At the end of 2025 it served 140 destinations in 58 countries with 97 aircraft. It is not in a global alliance but shares a joint network and the Emirates Skywards programme with Emirates.
Direct connection available on ReservationHub- Founded
- 2008
- First flight
- 2009-06-01
- Headquarters
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Country
- United Arab Emirates
- Main hubs
- Dubai International Airport (DXB)
- Airline type
- Low-cost carrier
- Alliance
- None
- Loyalty
- Emirates Skywards
- Ownership
- Owned by the Government of Dubai.
- Callsign
- SKY DUBAI
- Website
- flydubai.com
How travel agents book flydubai
GDS distribution
flydubai fares and inventory have been available in GDSs since 2011: Travelport (Galileo and Worldspan) signed a multi-year deal in May 2011, giving agents access to flydubai and partner flights in the same PNR, and Sabre signed a global distribution agreement in July 2011.
NDC
flydubai became the first airline to achieve IATA NDC Level 3 certification in October 2016, using TPConnects as its NDC platform partner. In September 2025 it adopted Accelya's NDC solution, part of the FLX ONE platform, to move towards offer and order retailing for trade partners.
Direct channels
flydubai offers travel agencies a direct connect (API) option and BSP ticketing access on request through its partner pages; agencies wanting a travel agent portal account register through their local flydubai Travel Shop.
Notes for travel agents
Because flydubai interlines with Emirates and 42 other airlines, connecting itineraries can often be ticketed together. Contact the local flydubai Travel Shop for agent portal registration in your market.
On ReservationHub
flydubai is one of the direct airline connections listed on our integrations page, alongside GDS (Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport) and NDC content. Agencies get it in the SaaS platform; developers through the Travel API.
History of flydubai
flydubai was set up by the Government of Dubai in March 2008 as the emirate's first low-cost airline, with start-up capital of AED 250 million. It took its name in June 2008 and, a month later, announced an order for 54 Boeing 737-800 aircraft at the Farnborough Airshow.
The first aircraft arrived in May 2009 and the airline launched on 1 June 2009 with daily flights to Beirut, followed by Amman the next day. Within its first six months it had five aircraft and eight routes, including Damascus, Alexandria, Djibouti, Doha, Khartoum and Baku. Its strategy has been to open routes to markets with no direct link to Dubai or no UAE national carrier service.
flydubai signed GDS distribution deals with Travelport and Sabre in 2011, and in 2016 it became the first airline to achieve IATA NDC Level 3 certification. It now runs a joint network with Emirates, which includes codeshare flights and the shared Emirates Skywards loyalty programme.
In 2025 the airline carried a record 15.7 million passengers. At the 2025 Dubai Airshow it announced plans for 150 Airbus A321neo and 75 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which would end its single-type fleet strategy.
Milestones
- 2008Established by the Government of Dubai in March; orders 54 Boeing 737-800s in July.
- 2009First flights to Beirut and Amman on 1 and 2 June.
- 2011Distribution agreements signed with Travelport (May) and Sabre (July).
- 2016First airline to achieve IATA NDC Level 3 certification.
- 2025Record 15.7 million passengers; adopts Accelya's NDC solution; announces orders for 150 A321neo and 75 737 MAX aircraft.
Fleet
Aircraft types in service as of 2025
flydubai had 97 aircraft at the end of 2025, with an average age of 5.5 years, made up of Boeing 737-800s and 737 MAX aircraft. It took 12 737 MAX 8s and retired three 737-800s during 2025, and expected 12 more 737 MAX deliveries in 2026. The Airbus A321neo order announced at the 2025 Dubai Airshow would add a second aircraft type.
Network and hubs
flydubai operates from Dubai International Airport (DXB). At the end of 2025 its network covered 140 destinations in 58 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, after it added nine new destinations and resumed three during the year.
The joint network with Emirates connected more than 2.5 million passengers in 2025. flydubai also has codeshares with Emirates, Air Canada and United, and 42 interline partners.
flydubai: frequently asked questions
What are flydubai's IATA and ICAO codes?
flydubai uses the IATA airline code FZ for tickets and reservations. Its ICAO designator is FDB and its radio callsign is SKY DUBAI. In IATA's code directory the airline is listed under its legal entity, Dubai Aviation Corporation, trading as flydubai, registered in the United Arab Emirates.
Is flydubai part of Emirates?
flydubai and Emirates are separate airlines, but both are owned by Dubai government entities and share a chairman. They operate a joint network with codeshare flights, and flydubai is part of the Emirates Skywards loyalty programme, so members earn Skywards Miles and Tier Miles on flydubai flights.
Does flydubai use NDC?
Yes. flydubai was the first airline to achieve IATA NDC Level 3 certification, in October 2016, with TPConnects as its NDC platform partner. In September 2025 it adopted Accelya's NDC solution within the FLX ONE platform, aiming to deliver richer, dynamic offers to trade partners and move towards offers and orders.
How do travel agents book flydubai?
Agencies can book flydubai through GDSs, as Travelport and Sabre have distributed its fares since 2011. flydubai also offers a direct connect API and BSP ticketing access on request, and agencies can open a travel agent portal account by registering through their local flydubai Travel Shop.
Where is flydubai's hub?
flydubai is based at Dubai International Airport (DXB). Its network radiates from Dubai to 140 destinations in 58 countries as of the end of 2025, with a focus on routes that had no direct link to Dubai before. The airline's head office is the flydubai campus in Dubai.
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Book a meetingSources
- flydubai — 2025 performance: record revenue and passenger growth (February 2026)
- flydubai — From naught to five aircraft and eight destinations in 23 weeks
- flydubai — flydubai opens for business with flights to Beirut and Amman (April 2009)
- flydubai — flydubai achieves IATA NDC Level 3 certification (October 2016)
- flydubai — flydubai and Travelport sign key distribution deal (May 2011)
- flydubai — Sabre and flydubai sign distribution and technology agreements (July 2011)
- flydubai — Partner with flydubai (API and travel agent portal)
- Travolution — flydubai teams up with Accelya (September 2025)
- Emirates — Emirates Skywards
- AACO — Member airlines: flydubai
- IATA — Airline and location code search
- FAA — JO 7340.2N Contractions (ICAO three-letter designators and telephony)