Dubai’s low cost airline flydubai has begun operations to its fourth Iraqi destination, Najaf with three flights a week on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.  

The inaugural flight, FZ221, departed Dubai Terminal 2 at 7am and landed in Najaf International Airport at 8.40am (local time). The return flight, FZ222, departed at 9.40am and arrived in Dubai at 12.50pm.

The Najaf flight marks the second new Iraqi destination for flydubai this month, following the service to capital  Baghdad 10 days ago, according to flydubai.

The one way fares from Dubai to Najaf start at Dh920 ($250), with fares from Najaf to Dubai starting at $225, the airline said in a statement.

Fares include one piece of hand luggage weighing up to 7kg and one small laptop bag or hand bag plus 20kg checked baggage. A seat with extra legroom costs Dh100, it added.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, flydubai’s CEO, said: “The new service reflects our strategy to link Dubai with underserved airports, making it more convenient for inbound and outbound passengers and we believe that this service will strengthen the already very strong relations between our two countries.”

The Iraqi Government has allocated $40 billion this year for development projects covering infrastructure, electricity, education and health. Telecoms is another rapidly expanding sector – the first subsea cable was recently installed, paving the way for increased broadband connectivity across the country.

In an effort to further boost relations between Iraq and GCC countries such as the UAE, officials are in discussions to host the next Arab Summit in Baghdad this March, said the official.

The new route is the 48th destination to which flydubai has started operations across the GCC, Middle East, Africa, Indian Sub-Continent, Asia, CIS and the fringes of Europe.-TradeArabia News Service