Opportunities for UAE oil and gas companies to participate in Iraq without breaking the bank got a boost yesterday when flydubai, Dubai’s low cost airline, launched services to its first Iraqi city, when the airline’s inaugural flight landed in Erbil last night.
FZ201 took off from Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 2 at 1830hrs yesterday evening and landed in Iraq’s third largest city, the capital of the Kurdish region of Northern Iraq, three hours later at 2030hrs local time.
Abdul Hadi Osman, Commercial Attache of the Republic of Iraq in Dubai, said: “The start of flydubai flights to Erbil is another indication of the continued development of economic relations between Iraq and the UAE. It highlights how the relations between both countries are rapidly improving, moving towards a brighter future.
“Erbil has seen encouraging development in recent years with many strategic projects being implemented across infrastructure, energy and commerce. Our new direct service will further strengthen the growth of the city by offering affordable and quality air links between the UAE and Iraq.”
“The flydubai service will contribute to and accelerate the turnover of the Iraqi economy,” he said.
“We hope other, similar partnerships with the UAE will help highlight the continued building of the new Iraq.”
flydubai’s chief commercial officer, Hamad Obaidalla, said: “Stability and prosperity is returning to Iraq and particularly the Kurdistan region, and this makes Erbil an important gateway into the country.”
According to recent reports, Iraq’s GDP was US$112 billion in 2009 and the country’s economy is expected to grow by approximately 7% in 2010, 7.9% in 2011 and at similar rates for the next few years. This is above the average projected growth for the Middle East.
