flydubai expands Russian network to 10 routes

Dubai-based flydubai has added three new destinations to its Russian network, bringing its presence in the country to ten points. This autumn, the airline will launch flights to Makhachkala and Voronezh and resume services to Ufa.

Flights from Dubai to Makhachkala and Voronezh will operate twice a week, starting October 31, 2017 and October 29, 2017, respectively. Services to Ufa will relaunch on October 31, 2017 with three flights a week. flydubai will be the only UAE-based carrier offering direct air links on these routes.

Commenting on the launch, Ghaith Al Ghaith, chief executive officer of flydubai, said: “Russia has been a key part of flydubai’s network since an early stage in our operations. We entered the market in 2010 and focused on markets that were previously underserved from Dubai.”

Along with the new additions, flydubai’s network in Russia includes Kazan, Krasnodar, Mineralnye Vody, Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, and Yekaterinburg.

Travel between Russia and Dubai has been recently benefited from changes in visa requirements enabling Russian passengers to automatically receive a free 30-day visa on arrival in the UAE.

This regulation prompted a 140% growth in travel numbers from Russia to Dubai within the first month since its introduction in February 2017, according to the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

Jeyhun Efendi, senior vice president commercial (UAE, EU, ME, CIS) for flydubai, said: “flydubai’s direct flights will give passengers from Voronezh, Makhachkala, and Ufa convenience of a non-stop short journey to Dubai. Passengers can also benefit from not having to make arrangements for a visa beforehand. We are focused on meeting the travel needs of our passengers.”

Makhachkala is major city in the South of Russia, and capital of Dagestan Republic. Voronezh is a major city in western Russia with a population of more than one million and rich history.

Ufa was among flydubai’s first destinations in Russia, initially launched in 2011. It is the largest oil refining centre in the Volga and the Urals, as well as a major transport hub, scientific, cultural, and religious centre.