flydubai announces flights to Sri Lanka

Adding yet another destination to its fast expanding network, Dubai’s first low cost airline, flydubai, has announced flights to Colombo, Sri Lanka, the island jewel of the Indian Ocean, from June 23.

 

 

Today’s announcement is the ninth new route announcement in just over a month, bringing flydubai’s rapidly expanding network to an impressive 21 destinations. Close on the heels of the announcement of flights to Lucknow-India and Karachi-Pakistan, flydubai has strengthened its presence in the region with the announcement of flights Colombo.

 

 

The four times a week service will begin on 23 June. A one-way fare including all taxes and one piece of hand luggage is priced at LKR 13000. With booking open, travellers will be able to purchase flights on flydubai’s website (flydubai.com), through the local call centre (+ 94 11 473 2485) and from travel agents.

 

 

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, said: “Colombo is a vital point connecting the Middle-East to South-East Asia. We see huge potential in the region and are pleased to bring our simple, uncomplicated low fares to the people of Sri Lanka. This is our third flight announcement in the Indian sub-continent and we are committed to offering the flydubai traveller an increasing network of destinations in this important region.

 

 

“Our inaugural flight toColombo on June 23, will be perfect timing for Sri Lankans wanting to return home to celebrate the Vel festival in July.

 

 

“Much like Sri Lanka, Dubaiis the ultimate family-friendly holiday destination. Besides the numerous world-class attractions, there is something for everyone, and we look forward to welcoming more travellers from Sri Lanka on board flydubai to experience it themselves. This, combined with the large number of Sri Lankan expatriates living and working in Dubai, means we are confident there will be a significant demand for our flights.”

 

 

Dubai has been called the “shopping capital of the Middle East”. Along Dubai offers an enviable range of entertainment options. As one of the 10 most visited cities in the world, Dubaialone has more than 70 shopping malls, including some of the world’s best and most opulent. But there is much more to Dubaithan shopping and the city recently celebrated the opening of the world’s tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa, housing the world’s first Armani hotel.

 

 

“This has been one of the most eventful periods for flydubai in the region. In line with our business strategy to rapidly expand the regional network and our approach of making travel a little less complex, a little less stressful and a little less expensive, flydubai has been successful in ensuring people are travelling to more destinations more often,” added Al Ghaith.

 

 

The new service, FZ 556, will operate four times a week, on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, departing Colombo at 0210 hrs and arriving in Dubai at 0510 hrs local time the following day. The return flight, FZ 555, which will operate on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday in a week departing Dubai at 1855 hrs and arriving in Colombo at 0110 hrs local time.

 

 

flydubai’s operational destinations are Beirut-Lebanon, Amman-Jordan, Damascusand Aleppo-Syria, Alexandria, Assiut and Luxor-Egypt, Djibouti, Doha-Qatar, Baku-Azerbaijan, Khartoum-Sudan, Bahrain, Kathmandu-Nepal, Muscat-Oman, Kabul-Afghanistan and Kuwait. The airline will soon start flights to Lucknow-India, Istanbul-Turkey, Latakia-Syria and Karachi-Pakistan, as well as Colombo-Sri Lanka

 

 

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 10kg, per passenger.

 

 

Passengers have the option to purchase checked-in baggage in advance at just LKR 1900 for the first piece, weighing up to 32kgs, 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 LKR 3200 would allow customers to select their seat with 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 modernized and enhanced Terminal 2 on the north side of Dubai International Airport.