Dubai-based carrier is the first airline outside of Africa to launch direct flights to Hargeisa

Dubai, UAE; 09 June 2015

Dubai-based flydubai's inaugural flight to Hargeisa landed today at Hargeisa Egal International Airport marking the launch of a direct four times weekly service to Hargeisa.

flydubai's delegation was headed by Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai, and Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President Commercial (GCC, Subcontinent and Africa) of flydubai. Upon landing in Hargeisa Egal International Airport, the delegation was greeted by H.E Abdirahman   Abdillahi  Ismail, the Vice-President of Somaliland and H.E Mohamud Hashi Abdi, the Minister of Civil Aviation and Air Transport of Somaliland.

Commenting on the launch of the route, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai, said: "We strive to provide underserved markets with direct air links to Dubai. The addition of Hargeisa to our network will provide the Somali diaspora with the opportunity to visit their families and friends in their home country.  With the interline agreements we have in place more than 250 destinations can now offer flights to Hargeisa through Dubai's aviation hub."

The Hargeisa route will be served with four flights a week which will see flydubai operate a total of 64 weekly flights between Dubai and destinations in Africa. flydubai offers cargo services on all its African routes, providing cargo solutions to a network of more than 90 destinations in Africa, Middle East and Subcontinent, Eastern Europe, Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia, and 135 additional destinations worldwide due to interline agreements.

Commenting on the inaugural flight to Hargeisa, Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President, Commercial (GCC, Subcontinent, Africa) at flydubai, added: "flydubai is committed to creating free flows of trade and tourism between the regions we fly to and we believe that our reliable and convenient passenger and cargo services will help to open up the trade opportunities between Hargeisa and Dubai and onward destinations." 

flydubai operates a fleet of 48 new Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft with an average age of around three years.

Hargeisa Flight Details:

flydubai will operate four flights a week between Dubai and Hargeisa starting from 09 June 2015.

FZ661 is scheduled to depart Dubai International Terminal 2 at 04.05 hrs local time, landing in Hargeisa Egal International Airport at 06.35 hrs local time. FZ662 is scheduled to depart Hargeisa Egal International Airport at 07.35 hrs local time, landing in Dubai at 12.15 hrs local time.

Round trip fares

Economy Class return fares from Dubai to Hargeisa start at AED 2,250 including 30kg checked baggage, while Business Class return fares will start at AED 5,600 and are inclusive of all taxes and 40kg checked baggage.

Economy Class return fares from Hargeisa to Dubai start at USD 610 including 40kg checked baggage, while Business Class return fares will start at USD 1,100 and are inclusive of all taxes and 40kg checked baggage.



Flights can be purchased from flydubai's website (flydubai.com), its Contact Centre (+971 600 54 44 45), flydubai travel shops or through travel partners.

-Ends-

About flydubai:
Dubai-based flydubai strives to remove barriers to travel and enhance connectivity between different cultures across its ever-expanding network. Since launching its operations in 2009, flydubai has:

·         Created a network of more than 90 destinations in 45 countries, with 23 new routes launched in 2014.

·         Opened up 56 new routes that did not previously have direct air links to Dubai or were not served by a UAE national carrier from Dubai.

·         Built up a fleet of 48 new Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft and will take delivery of more than 100 aircraft by the end of 2023.

In addition, flydubai's agility and flexibility as a young airline has enhanced Dubai's economic development, in line with the Government of Dubai's vision, by creating trade and tourism flows in previously underserved markets.

For further details contact:
Daniya Zaynullina
Senior Press officer
(+971) 55 635 6110
Email: daniya.zaynullina@flydubai.com

© Press Release 2015