UAE’s Flydubai set to launch flights to Juba

February 19, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – UAE’s low-cost airline Flydubai has announced plans to offer flights to and from South Sudan’s capital, Juba.

The Dubai-based airline will fly to Juba Airport four times a week from its base at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 2, with services commencing on 21 April.

With the addition of Juba to its network, Flydubai has now launched 32 routes that either did not previously have direct links with the Emirates or were not already served by an UAE national carrier from Dubai.

Flights to Juba will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Flight FZ611 will take-off from Dubai at 10.10am, landing in Juba at 2pm (local time), with the return flight, FZ612, departing Juba at 3pm, with a scheduled arrival time in Dubai of 9.15pm (UAE time). Tickets from Juba start from $325 one-way

Flydubai’s CEO, Ghaith Al Ghaith, said the new service would open up previously untapped markets, particularly in Africa.

“We are pleased to start operations to Juba as it enables us to further broaden our network in Africa and opens up more routes to previously underserved markets”, he said.

All fares are inclusive of 20kg checked baggage allowance, a 7kg hand baggage allowance, plus one small laptop bag or handbag and taxes.

Government-owned Flydubai was set-up in 2008, becoming the country’s first low-cost airline. It now serves more than 50 destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe with a fleet of 28 aircraft.

The no-frills airline carried 5.1 million passengers in 2012, posting its first ever profit in the same year. It has announced plans to boost its growth in 2013 by adding six new aircraft to its fleet.

The new Juba route comes in addition to a number of new destinations launched by the airline in the past year, including Baghdad, Bucharest, Sana’a in Yemen and Taif in Saudi Arabia.

(ST)