Soon, flydubai to serve free meals, entertainment to Economy Class passengers

Dubai: Dubai airline flydubai has unveiled major Economy Class upgrades ahead of the Dubai Airshow next month.

flydubai has announced it will include complimentary meals and inflight entertainment across all Economy Class fares from November 2025, marking a significant shift in the carrier’s business model.

"Redefining the Economy Class offering across all flights represents a significant evolution in our business model, offering customers a more elevated and convenient travel journey," said Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai.

The onboard menu will feature authentic flavours inspired by the airline's destinations, with regional dishes from African, European, Indian, Middle Eastern, Russian and Southeast Asian cuisines, though offerings will vary by route and flight duration.

On the entertainment front, the airline is offering passengers access to more than 1,000 films spanning Hollywood, Bollywood, Arabic and international cinema, alongside TV shows from HBO Max, BBC Kids and Cartoon Network. Passengers will also have access to interactive games, over 700 music albums and podcast episodes.

Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said: "This announcement has come at the right time as we prepare to expand our network, continue to grow our fleet and welcome more passengers on board year after year."

The move comes as flydubai continues its aggressive fleet expansion programme. The carrier has received nine new aircraft this year, growing its fleet to 95 Boeing 737s, with three more expected by year-end. The airline currently serves more than 135 destinations.

The airline suffered a tough 2024 after Boeing's supply chain delays delayed aircraft deliveries substantially. It was forced to cancel the launch of routes planned for the year.

This year, the airline launched flights to Chișinău, Moldova; and Iași, Romania. From December, the airline will also launch services to Vilnius in Lithuania and Riga in Latvia.

The all-Boeing airline said in July last year that its growth plans have been "stunted" after it received an update from the US manufacturer that it would not receive any more planes for the year, amid a high-growth period.

flydubai has also invested heavily in ground facilities, including a dedicated Business Class check-in area and a new Business Class Lounge at Terminal 2, Dubai International Airport.

Looking ahead, the airline expects to receive its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft from 2027, which will unlock new long-haul routes and add capacity on existing services.