Dubai’s low cost airline flydubai will add two more routes taking its network to 26 destinations.
Sulaimaniyah in Iraq and Yerevan in Armenia will be included in its routes from next month.
“Our two new destinations are both to incredibly important markets for flydubai. Sulaimaniyah is our second route in Iraqi Kurdistan, following on from the start of flights to Erbil in August,” said Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai.
“The service to the Armenian capital Yerevan is a totally new market for us, but similarly, a very important one. As a city Yerevan has a long history, being inhabited from the eighth century BC, meaning there is thousands of years of history to be explored and discovered, while the modern city has much to offer too,” he added.
“The service to Sulaimaniyah underlines flydubai’s commitment and confidence in the country of Iraq, which has attracted a lot of investment from the UAE, helping grow trade links and cement ties between the two nations.”
Sulaimaniyah is a major city in the northern Kurdistan region of Iraq. A much younger city than some of its neighbours, with history stretching back to the 18th century, Sulaimaniyah has grown to be a large city, with around 800,000 inhabitants.
Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, is an ancient city that is considered one of the world’s oldest inhabited cities. The city is one of Armenia’s major tourist destinations, with a wealth of culture, history and modernity providing an eclectic mix that is unique to ancient cities such as Yerevan,” said a statement.
The city is also a haven for both Armenian and international businesses, with a booming construction industry that has seen strong growth in the past decade. Yerevan has seen many new builds but also extensive refurbishment and regeneration of older areas of the capital.
The service to Sulaimaniyah begins on November 24, flying twice a week to the Iraqi city. Flight FZ205 departs Dubai at 2215hrs and lands in Iraq at 0025hrs local time. Service FZ206 from Sulaimaniyah to Dubai leaves at 0110hrs and arrives at Dubai International Airport Terminal 2 at 0440hrs local time. A one way flight from Dubai begins at Dh1,225. Flights from Sulaimaniyah to Dubai start at $315 one way.
Flights to Yerevan start on November 21 with the service operating two times a week, going to thrice weekly from December 15. Flight FZ715 departs Dubai at 1010hrs, arriving in the Armenian capital at 1335hrs local time. Prices from Dubai to Yerevan start at Dh590 and a one way flight from Yerevan begins at $190.