From left: Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai; Abdirahman Abdillahi Ismail, vice-president of Somaliland; Mohamud Hashi Abdi, minister of civil aviation and air transport, Somaliland. (Image source: African Press Organization)

Dubai-based carrier flydubai has started direct flights to Hargeisa in Somaliland, becoming the first airline outside Africa to do so

The flight from Dubai to Hargeisa made its inaugural journey last week, marking the launch of the direct four times-a-week service when it landed at Hargeisa Egal International Airport.

After landing in Hargeisa, flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith 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.?

Along with offering business class travel for passengers looking for a more comfortable flying experience, the airline is also offering cargo services on the new route. Taking into account the interline agreements that flydubai has, the cargo service will cater to a network of more than 200 countries across Africa, Middle East, eastern Europe, Russia, and other parts of Asia.

Sudhir Sreedharan, senior vice-president, commercial (GCC, Subcontinent, Africa) at flydubai said that the airline?s ?reliable and convenient passenger and cargo services will help to open up the trade opportunities between Hargeisa and Dubai and onward destinations.?

flydubai operates a fleet of 48 new Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft with an average age of around three years, and has plans to take delivery of another 100 aircraft or more by 2023.

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