flydubai to launch three Ukraine routes

Dubai's low cost carrier flydubai on Wednesday announced its entry into Ukraine with the launch of flights to three cities.

The airline said it would start flights to Kiev, Donetsk and Kharkov in September, expanding the company's global network to 40 destinations spanning the GCC, Asia, Levant, Africa, Europe and the Indian sub-continent.

Flights to the three destinations will start after Eid. Flights to Kiev and Kharkov will commence on September 16 while flights to the eastern city of Donetsk starting a day later.

flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said: "The potential to develop the economic relationship between Ukraine and the UAE is huge and I am confident flydubai's three new destinations will have a large stimulant effect on this relationship.

"Boryspil International Airport in Kiev is an impressive modern airport and we have been granted the privilege of flying into the prestigious Terminal F, a terminal usually not offered to low cost airlines."

Ukraine is the eighth most visited country in the world and its location at the cross-roads of Central, East, North and South Europe has long made it a popular tourist and transit spot within the region.

flydubai said earlier this month that it plans to hire 600 pilots by 2016 in a bid to keep pace with its growing fleet and route network.

The state-owned carrier, which currently employs more than 200 pilots, placed an order for 50 Boeing 737-800s in 2008 with a total value of US $4bn. The last of these aircrafts is due for delivery in 2016.