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Aviation News Today: flydubai Launches ACMI Freighters

flydubai launches wet-leased 737 freighters as Airbus deliveries, Boeing certification, MRO consolidation and cargo fleet investment shape the aviation market.

Aviation Industry Brief

ACMI Cargo Moves Into Focus as flydubai Starts Wet-Leased Freighter Operations

The most relevant ACMI development in the aviation market today is in cargo. flydubai has started operating dedicated Boeing 737-800 freighters under a wet-lease arrangement with SolitAir, while developments around aircraft deliveries, certification and maintenance continue to influence how airlines secure capacity.

2 October 2026 · ACMI World

What matters today: flydubai is using wet-leased freighters to enter dedicated main-deck cargo operations without waiting to build an owned freighter fleet. At the same time, Airbus delivery performance, Boeing certification timing and greater airline control over maintenance capacity remain important variables for the wider ACMI leasing market.

ACMI · Cargo

1. flydubai Begins Operations With Three Wet-Leased 737 Freighters

flydubai's dedicated cargo operation began on 1 October with three Boeing 737-800 freighters supplied through a wet-lease agreement with Dubai-based SolitAir.

The aircraft are based at Al Maktoum International Airport and provide approximately 23,000 kg of payload capacity per flight. flydubai plans to use the capacity for both scheduled freight and ad-hoc charter activity, including pharmaceuticals, perishables, express cargo, aerospace components and other specialised shipments.

The airline describes the deployment as the first phase of its dedicated freighter expansion. Passenger-to-freighter conversions are also being evaluated from 2029 onward. Read the flydubai announcement.

ACMI World view: this is a useful example of ACMI being used for market entry rather than simply disruption recovery. flydubai can establish a dedicated cargo product, test route economics and secure immediate lift while avoiding the lead time required to source, convert and operationally introduce its own freighter fleet.

Boeing 737 freighter aircraft on the ground — Narrowbody freighters remain an important part of regional express and e-commerce networks. Photo by David Syphers via Unsplash.

Aircraft Supply

2. Airbus September Deliveries Reach About 72 Aircraft

Airbus delivered approximately 72 commercial aircraft during September, according to industry sources cited by Reuters. The number is provisional and Airbus is expected to publish its official monthly industrial data on 8 October.

The figure is close to the 73 aircraft delivered in September last year and came despite continued pressure from engine availability, component shortages and an industrial issue affecting parts for the A321neo.

Airbus continues to target around 870 deliveries for 2026. Reuters has the delivery update.

Why ACMI operators should care: delivery cadence remains one of the underlying drivers of temporary capacity demand. Even when monthly deliveries improve, individual airline delays can create requirements for bridge lift, replacement aircraft or seasonal wet-lease capacity.

Boeing · Certification

3. FAA Reviews 737 MAX Software Issue as MAX 10 Certification Waits

The US Federal Aviation Administration is convening a review of a Boeing 737 MAX software issue involving automated flight guidance during a specific go-around scenario.

The FAA has delayed certification of the 737 MAX 10 while it completes its analysis. Boeing has informed operators and is working on a software update. No grounding of the existing MAX fleet has been announced in connection with the issue.

Airline officials cited by Reuters said certification of the MAX 10 could still take place later in October if the review is resolved. Read the latest certification update.

Capacity implication: certification and delivery timing matter well beyond Boeing's order book. Airlines planning around incoming aircraft can require interim capacity when an entry-into-service date moves, particularly on constrained narrowbody networks.

Widebody aircraft positioned beside an airline maintenance hangar — Maintenance capacity is increasingly becoming a strategic fleet resource. Photo by Hieu via Unsplash.

MRO · Asia

4. Malaysia Aviation Group Moves to Acquire Sepang Aircraft Engineering

Malaysia Aviation Group, the parent company of Malaysia Airlines, has signed an agreement to acquire Sepang Aircraft Engineering from Airbus.

MAG said the transaction is intended to strengthen its engineering and maintenance capabilities, expand its services portfolio and increase third-party revenue. Completion is targeted for 2027 and remains subject to customary conditions and Malaysian aviation regulatory approval.

No transaction value was disclosed. Read the transaction report.

Why it matters: aircraft availability is not only about ownership or leasing. Hangar slots, heavy checks, engines, components and technical personnel increasingly affect usable fleet capacity. Greater control over MRO infrastructure can therefore become part of an airline's wider capacity strategy.

Air Cargo · Fleet

5. Ethiopian Airlines Orders Eight 777-8Fs and Two 777 Freighters

Ethiopian Airlines has placed a firm order for eight Boeing 777-8 Freighters and two current-generation 777 Freighters, extending one of Africa's largest dedicated cargo operations.

Boeing says Ethiopian currently operates 12 777 Freighters, two 767 freighters and four 737-800SF aircraft, serving more than 70 cargo markets. The new order gives the carrier additional long-term widebody freight capacity while reinforcing Addis Ababa's role as a cargo hub between Africa and major international markets.

See Boeing's announcement.

Market signal: long-term cargo operators are still committing to new-build freighters, while the near-term market continues to rely heavily on existing 777Fs, converted narrowbodies and ACMI capacity. Those two markets can coexist: permanent fleet investment solves long-duration requirements, while wet lease remains useful for network launches, peaks and temporary shortfalls.

What Today's News Says About the ACMI Market

ACMI is moving beyond disruption cover The flydubai deployment shows wet leasing being used to establish an entirely new operating capability without waiting for an owned fleet.

Aircraft delivery risk remains relevant Better manufacturer delivery numbers do not remove airline-level timing risk. Bridge capacity remains valuable when aircraft arrive later than planned.

MRO access is part of capacity planning An aircraft only creates revenue when it is serviceable. Maintenance slots, engines, spares and technical support increasingly belong in the same discussion as fleet sourcing.

For cargo operators specifically, the current market points toward a mix of new-build investment, passenger-to-freighter conversions and leased cargo aircraft. The right structure depends on how permanent the requirement is, how quickly capacity is needed and how much operating risk the airline wants to retain.

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