Dubai: Flydubai, the Dubai-based budget carrier, said it will start flights to the western Russian city of Samara on October 20.
The announcement comes a few weeks after the airline announced its first destination in Russia. Samara is the 24th destination of the 15-month-old airline.
Flights to Samara will follow hot on the heels of flydubai's first flight to Russia, which will be to Yekaterinburg on October 16.
Gaith Al Gaith, flydubai CEO, said: "Traffic between Russia and Dubai is developing and we at flydubai are pleased to be playing our part in ensuring business and leisure travellers from both countries can discover the benefits of travel between our two nations.
"The introduction of flydubai's direct service to Samara provides an option for travellers to the Samara Oblast region, which is an important area near the river Volga."
Regional centre
Situated where the Volga and Samara rivers meet, Samara is an important regional centre, as the majority of the Russian car manufacturing industry is situated in neighbouring Tolyati.
A city with a long history of importance to the region, Samara also offers culture and plenty to see for leisure travellers.
Samara is a haven for ballet and opera lovers and has played host to some of Russia's most famous sons, including composer Dmitri Shostakovich, who lived there during the Second World War and wrote his Seventh Symphony in the city, and author Alexey Tolstoy, who was born in the city.
Flydubai flights to Samara will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Flight FZ903 will depart Dubai International Airport Terminal 2 at 9am and arrive in Samara at 2.50pm local time.
The return flight FZ904 leaves Kurumoch International Airport at 3.50pm and arrives in Dubai at 7.35pm local time. Prices for flights from Dubai begin from Dh1,150 and flights from Samara start at USD 400.
Flights can be purchased on flydubai's website (flydubai.com), through the call centre and with travel partners.
Flydubai, Dubai's first low-cost airline, was established by the Government of Dubai in March 2008.
