DUBAI – Budget airline FlyDubai will begin a service to Azerbaijan’s capital Baku from Nov. 20, the carrier’s ninth destination since it started operating in June.

“Baku is our first route into Asia and a prime opportunity because of its rapid expansion as a business and tourism centre,” FlyDubai Chief Executive Officer Ghaith al-Ghaith said in a statement.

“There is currently only one other airline operating direct flights between Dubai and Baku so we anticipate strong demand for our service.”

The airline, which has ordered 50 Boeing single-aisle planes, suffered a setback on the lucrative India sector in July when it could not launch services to three Indian cities, citing unspecified operational issues.

It aims to cover most key cities within a flight distance of four and a half hours from Dubai.

FlyDubai will start flying to the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Nov. 8. Its network includes Beirut, Amman, Damascus and Doha.

“While the more well-known routes are a mainstay of FlyDubai’s business, it is also our aim to open up the skies and fly to less established locations,” Ghaith said.

Source: maktoob.com