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Flydubai grows Iraqi network with new Basra route

02 July 2012 09:38 (UTC +04:00)

Baku - APA-Economics. flydubai, Dubaiâ€™s innovative low-cost airline, has added another Iraqi destination to its network, with four-times weekly flights to Basra scheduled to begin on 8 August 2012, the company told APA.

Basra joins the capital, Baghdad, plus Najaf, Sulaimaniyah, and Erbil, swelling flydubaiâ€™s Iraqi route map to five points, one of the most comprehensive networks to Iraq in the region.

Commenting on the rising prospects between the UAE and Iraq, which saw trade exchange between the two nations account for more than US$4.5 billion in 2011[1], flydubaiâ€™s CEO, Ghaith Al Ghaith, said: â€œWe identified Iraq as one of our principal markets in 2010 with the launch of services to Erbil and Sulaimaniyah. This is in line with our commitment to continually identify emerging and underserved destinations. We hope that our expanding network will further promote travel between the UAE and Iraq, not only for the business community but also for the thousands of Iraqi expatriates residing in the UAE.â€

Iraqâ€™s ongoing reconstruction work and the development of sectors such as energy, construction, retail, and agriculture indicate that the main demand for the new route will be business traffic. Besides its commercial interests, Iraq is also home to a number of significant historical and religious sites.

Flights to Basra will operate four times a week and will commence on 8 August 2012. FZ229 is scheduled to depart Dubai Terminal 2 at 0845hrs, landing in Basra International Airport at 0940hrs local time.
The return flight, FZ230, departs at 1040hrs, arriving in Dubai at 1325hrs local time. Return fares from Dubai to Basra start at AED 2,205 ($600) and include one piece of hand luggage weighing up to 7kg, one small laptop bag or handbag plus 20kg of checked baggage in each direction. A seat with extra legroom costs AED100 ($28) extra.
Flights between Dubai and Basra can be purchased from flydubaiâ€™s website (www.flydubai.com), its call centre (+9714 231 1000), flydubai Travel Shops and through travel partners.