Dubai-based carrier FlyDubai will begin operating three-times weekly service to Hargeisa in Somaliland from 10 August, expanding its African network to 12 destinations in nine countries.
Flights from Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB) to Somaliland capital, Hargeisa Egal International Airport (HGA) will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, potentially to be operated by the Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Commenting on the relaunch of the route, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai, said: “We are committed to provide underserved markets with direct air links to Dubai. We are pleased to restart our operations to Hargeisa which will provide the Somali diaspora with a convenient option to visit their families and friends in their home country. With the codeshare agreement with Emirates and the interline agreements we have in place more than 200 destinations can now be reached through Dubai’s aviation hub.”
“Flydubai is committed to creating free flows of trade and tourism between the regions we fly to and we believe that our reliable and convenient passenger and cargo services will help to open up the trade opportunities between Hargeisa and Dubai and onward destinations. We are sure that both our Economy Class and Business Class will exceed the passengers’ expectations and we look forward to welcoming passengers from Hargeisa on board again soon,” Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent) at flydubai added.
Flydubai is also the first emirati carrier to operate to Hargeisa, Somaliland from Dubai. The carrier continues to open up underserved markets and expand its network in Africa with plans to relaunch its operations to Uganda in the coming few weeks.
Looking back at March last year, the state of Somaliland banned flydubai from flying to its capital Hargeisa following an incident in which Somalia ordered an aircraft on route to turn around.
The aircraft, a Flydubai Boeing 737-800 operating as flight number FZ661 was en route from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Hargeisa Egal International Airport (HGA) when it was asked to return to the United Arab Emirates, following a directive by Somalia government halting all flights to Somalia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Victor Shalton Odhiambo
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