Budget carrier flydubai announced it will launch two new routes to Europe in 2018; one to Krakow and another to Catania. The launch will bring flydubais network to over 100 destinations in 47 countries.
In a statement, flydubai said it will start flights to the Polish city of Krakow from April 8, and flights to Italys Catania from June 13. The launch will make the carrier the first one in the UAE to operate direct flights to those destinations, offering daily flights. When launched, Catania will be the first destination flydubai flies to in South Europe as the carrier has mostly concentrated its operations in the eastern and central part of that continent.
Emirates will code-share on both routes as part of the Emirates-flydubai partnership announced in July this year.
Low-cost carriers in the Gulf region have traditionally not operated in Western Europe as their aircraft fleet mostly has a maximum flying range of about seven to eight hours.
Flydubai said it plans to operate both the new routes on its new Boeing 737MAX 8, which was unveiled at the Dubai Air Show this November.