Flydubai expands operations with touchdown in Djibouti

Flydubai added a second African destination to its network when flight FZ601 touched down at Djibouti Ambouli International Airport.

The new service will operate three times per week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, departing Dubai at 0800hrs arriving at 1015hrs local time. The return flight, FZ602, will leave 45 minutes later at 1100hrs and arrive back in Dubai at 1515hrs local time.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of Flydubai, said: “One of the reasons Flydubai was set up was to operate to second tier cities that are currently underserved by airlines flying out of Dubai. While these cities may not be large enough markets for the bigger airlines, there is still a significant amount of traffic from these markets and we believe they will be important and profitable routes for Flydubai.

“Djibouti has long established commercial links with Dubai, including DP World, which operates the Port of Djibouti,” he added.

Al Ghaith believes that demand will be strong because “we are one of the very few airlines to offer direct flights to this relatively small destination”.

H.E.M Ali Hassan Bahdon, the Djibouti Minister of Equipment and Transport, said the new route is a great benefit to Djibouti nationals and expatriates living in the country: “The Flydubai service brings us closer to many more destinations and makes our country more accessible - it will bring new visitors to boost tourism and will make the trading links with Dubai much more accessible. This new service is excellent news for everyone who lives and works here.”

Djibouti is Flydubai's second African destination after Alexandria and the sixth destination on the network, which also includes Beirut, Amman, Damascus and Aleppo.