Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need approval to trade airline inflight products?
Yes. This activity requires pre-approval from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) before Meydan Free Zone can issue the business license. Approval must be obtained before the licence is granted.
2. Is this activity subject to AML rules?
No. Activity 4690.92 is not subject to AML compliance requirements, although DCAA pre-approval remains mandatory before licensing.
3. How large is the Dubai aviation market?
Dubai International handled over 95 million passengers in 2025. A single inflight catering operation at the airport serves more than 100 airline customers with capacity exceeding 250,000 meals per day.
4. Who are the buyers for inflight products?
Airlines, inflight catering companies, airport lounge operators, and aviation service providers. The concentration of carriers and caterers around Dubai is the main commercial argument for basing here.
5. Can I prepare the food served on board?
No. Preparing or catering food is a separate food service activity. This licence covers supplying the physical products used in cabin service, not the meals themselves.
6. Does this cover aircraft spare parts?
No. Aircraft spare parts and components are separately classified and carry their own DCAA requirements. This activity is limited to products used in the cabin.
How to Start an Airline Inflight Products Trading Business with Meydan Free Zone
Airline inflight products trading covers the supply of the physical items carried on board aircraft and used in cabin service. That spans meal trolleys and galley equipment, blankets, pillows, headsets, amenity kits, plastic and metal cutlery, dishes and cups, children's items, and printed paper products. These are consumable and semi-consumable goods bought on repeat cycles by airlines and their catering partners, which makes the category volume-driven and relationship-led.
Dubai is an unusually strong base for it. Emirates handled over 95 million passengers at Dubai International in 2025, and the airport continues to record among the highest passenger volumes globally.[1] Emirates Flight Catering operates from a facility spanning more than 160,000 square metres with production capacity exceeding 250,000 meals per day, serving more than 100 airline customers across Dubai International and Al Maktoum International.[2]
Regional demand extends beyond Dubai. Etihad targeted 21.5 million passengers in 2025 as it expanded its fleet toward 200 aircraft, with a stated ambition of 39 million passengers a year by 2030.[3] For suppliers, the concentration of carriers, caterers, and lounge operators within a short radius is the commercial argument for licensing here.
An Aviation Hub Serving Over 100 Airline Customers
A Dubai-licensed airline inflight products trader supplies a market where Dubai International handled over 95 million passengers in 2025 and where a single catering operation serves more than 100 airline customers with production capacity exceeding 250,000 meals per day across a facility of more than 160,000 square metres.
Sources: Dubai Civil Aviation Authority / DXB (2026), Emirates Flight Catering, Gulf News / Etihad Airways (2025)
Who Is This Activity For?
4690.92 - Airline Inflight Products Trading
Activity 4690.92 sits within the broader class covering non-specialised wholesale trade. Within that class, this activity is the trading of products used on board aircraft. It covers the resale of a variety of airline-specific items, including food trolleys, blankets, towels, cushions, plastic and metal cutlery, dishes and cups, toys and children's items, and paper products supplied for cabin service. The activity concerns supplying these goods to airlines, caterers, and aviation service operators. It does not extend to manufacturing the products, preparing the food itself, or carrying out aircraft maintenance.
The trading range covers:
- Meal trolleys, galley carts, and standard units
- Cabin tableware including dishes, cups, and cutlery
- Blankets, pillows, towels, and cushions
- Amenity kits, headsets, and passenger comfort items
- Toys, activity packs, and children's inflight items
- Printed paper products and cabin literature
- Disposable service items and packaging for cabin use
Service Scope
Galley Trolleys & Service Equipment
Meal trolleys, carts, containers, and galley inserts supplied to airlines and catering operators, built to aviation specification and weight limits.
Cabin Tableware & Cutlery
Plastic and metal cutlery, dishes, cups, and serving items supplied across economy through to premium cabin service standards.
Passenger Comfort Items
Blankets, pillows, towels, cushions, and amenity kits supplied in volume for long-haul and premium cabin service.
Children's & Activity Items
Toys, activity packs, and children's products distributed on family routes, a distinct repeat-purchase category for carriers.
Paper Products & Disposables
Printed cabin literature, napkins, packaging, and single-use service items supplied on high-frequency replenishment cycles.
WHAT THIS ACTIVITY EXCLUDES
It is important to note what activity 4690.92 does not cover. The manufacture of inflight products, equipment, or textiles is an industrial activity outside this scope. Preparing or catering the food served on board is a food service activity in its own right. Aircraft maintenance, repair, and the supply of aircraft spare parts and components are separately classified, as is ground handling. Retail sale of travel goods to consumers falls under retail classifications, and duty free retail operation is a distinct activity.
In short: if you are supplying the products carried and used on board aircraft, you are in. If you are manufacturing those products, preparing the food, maintaining aircraft, or selling to travellers at retail, you are not.
Licensing & Compliance
Third-Party Approval:
You need approval from the DCAA (Dubai Civil Aviation Authority) before your business license is issued.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance:
This business activity is exempt from AML compliance requirement.
References
[1] Travel And Tour World (Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and DXB passenger data). (2026).
[2] Emirates Flight Catering. Airline and airport services capacity profile.
[3] Gulf News. Etihad Airways eyes 21.5 million passengers in 2025 as fleet grows.
