Dubai-based flydubai’s inaugural flight landed on Tuesday at Somali Northern city of Hargeisa marking the launch of a direct four times weekly service to Hargeisa.
Fly Dubai’s delegation was headed by Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai and Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President Commercial (GCC, Subcontinent and Africa) of flydubai.
The delegation was greeted by H.E Abdirahman  Abdillahi Ismail, the Vice-President of Somaliland and H.E Mohamud Hashi Abdi, the Minister of Civil Aviation and Air Transport of Somaliland.
Commenting on the launch of the route, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai, said: “We strive to provide underserved markets with direct air links to Dubai. The addition of Hargeisa to our network will provide the Somali diaspora with the opportunity to visit their families and friends in their home country. With the interline agreements we have in place more than 250 destinations can now offer flights to Hargeisa through Dubai’s aviation hub.
Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President, Commercial (GCC, Subcontinent, Africa) at fly Dubai added: “fly Dubai 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.â€
Fly Dubai is the second international carrier to start flights operations in Somalia after Turkish airlines.