flydubai launches flights to Iran

flydubai has announced the launch of flights to Tehran and Mashhad, the carrier's first two destinations in Iran.
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Flights to Tehran will begin on 11 August and Mashhad on 10 August. flydubai will serve Iran with four flights a week, providing passengers with greater convenience when travelling between the United Arab Emirates and Iran. The carrier will be looking at expanding its network in the market as it continues to strengthen the trade and travel links from Dubai to the region. 

Ghaith Al Ghaith, chief executive officer at flydubai, said: “We have been building on the momentum of last year and we’ve announced 13 new routes since the start of 2014. Our approach to opening up previously underserved markets, including Iran, presents much opportunity for flydubai and enables a greater number of passengers to benefit from Dubai’s efficient aviation hub.” 

flydubai will be the only carrier to offer Business Class from Dubai to Mashhad. The airline continues to focus on short and medium-haul markets, while offering a high-quality, affordable and reliable product. flydubai’s Business Class provides passengers with a priority service on the ground and a more personal flying experience in the air. Business Class, which was introduced less than a year ago, is now available on more than 80% of flydubai’s network. 

The carrier, which took delivery of three new Next-Generation Boeing 737-800s in July, has grown its fleet to 39 aircraft with more than 100 new Boeing aircraft on order. 

flydubai commenced its new services to Kandahar in July and Aden at the beginning of August. The airline is also set to commence flights to Moscow and Kazakhstan in September, Mumbai in October and to Sarajevo and Zagreb in December. 

Analyst Saj Ahmad commented: “Flydubai's foray into Iran is as much of a coup as it is a huge opportunity. Given the inherent cultural and economic trade links that Dubai has with Iran, services to the capital Tehran and also Mashhad will further boost those ties - and with Iranian carriers struggling under the weight of old airplanes and sanctions, this is a market that flydubai can arguably dominate and expand with ease. Aside from the obvious political links to the capital, Mashhad is a key religious centre for Shia Muslim pilgrims and therefore flydubai is wise to identify this as a source of year-round leisure and tourist fliers who'll be pleased that they can use a new, forward-looking non-Iranian airline to fly to such places of religious significance.” 

Ahmad added: “The other benefit for flydubai here is that its cargo arm will also gain leverage with freight activity too. Iran is a poorly served nation and any in-roads by the likes of flydubai will almost certainly spur regional rivals like Air Arabia, flynas and others to take a second look at the country and see how best they too can compete. Like India, Iran has been on flydubai's radar for a while and the quick start up of flights here implies that they are going to expand not just frequencies, but possibly flights to other cities like Isfahan for example. With little domestic Iranian competition, flydubai is smart to get in now and have a pick of the roost.”