flydubai Spreads Network South to Sudan.

flydubai, Dubai's first low cost airline, is to start daily flights to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, with effect from Sunday, November 8. flydubai's eighth destination, Khartoum, which sits at the confluence of the Blue and White Niles, is a rapidly growing economy. Well known for its oil trade, the country also boasts growing printing, glass manufacturing, food processing and textile businesses.

At a distance of 1,600 miles from Dubai, the flight to Khartoum will be the longest in flydubai's network, but the airline is keeping fares low with prices starting from just AED 325 one way, which includes all taxes and one piece of hand baggage weighing up to 10kg. Tickets are available for purchase from the website (flydubai.com), call centre ( [phone] [phone] ) and travel agents from 12 noon today (October 20).

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai believes that the airline is meeting the demand of another under-serviced route.

"Sudan is a country with a tremendous potential for economic development and financial growth. The country is working hard to ensure there are significant business opportunities which are attractive to businessmen in the UAE and further afield.

"When you combine that with the existing demand from the many thousands of Sudanese residents in the UAE, it is easy to see why flydubai is excited about the prospects for this route.

"flydubai is playing the role of a pioneer in the low cost sector and our goal is to make these significant, but under-represented destinations available, accessible and affordable. Our fares mean that people can experience the potential of Khartoum for themselves without laying out their own significant investment on travel."

The route also offers many more opportunities for the tens of thousands of Sudanese expatriates working in Dubai to meet up with family and friends more often.

The daily flight FZ631 will leave Dubai International Airport Terminal 2 at 1845hrs, arriving in Khartoum after 4hrs and 5 minutes at 2150hrs local time. The flight from Khartoum to Dubai, FZ632, will leave at 2235hrs arriving in Dubai the following day at 0340hrs local time.

The other seven routes in flydubai's growing network are: Beirut-Lebanon, Amman-Jordan, Damascus and Aleppo-Syria, Alexandria-Egypt, Djibouti-Africa and Doha-Qatar. The airline now has five Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft, after its fifth was delivered as scheduled in mid-October.

The flydubai model is simple, with customers paying only for the services they want to receive. The ticket price includes all taxes and one piece of hand baggage, weighing up to 10 kg, per passenger.

Passengers have the option to purchase checked-in baggage in advance at just AED 40 for the first piece and AED 100 for the second, weighing up to 32kg, subject to availability. Checked baggage at the airport is also strictly subject to availability and passengers are advised to book online early to secure the space, as only pre-purchased baggage can be guaranteed.

A nominal payment of AED 5 allows customers to select their seat and just AED 50 secures the extra legroom positions. Bookings can be changed for a small fee, plus any difference in the fare, and food and drink can be purchased on board.

flydubai operates from a modernised and enhanced Terminal 2 on the north side of Dubai International Airport. 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

2009 Al Bawaba (Albawaba.com)

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