Dubai: Flydubai is the latest airline to announce its cutting services to Ukraine as the country is marred by increasing political instability and threats of civil war.
“With effect from May 18 2014, flydubai will serve Kiev operating flights to Zhulyany International Airport four times a week and will operate once a week to Kharkiv, Donetsk and Odessa,” a flydubai spokesperson stated to Gulf News.
The Dubai-based discount carrier had operated daily flights to Kiev and up to three times weekly services to the other destinations, according to the spokesperson.
“Passengers whose flights are affected can either choose to re-book on another flight from Ukraine for a later date or get a refund. All options are available without any penalty fees,” the spokesperson added.
It is unclear whether it is a permanent suspension with the spokesperson stating that, “We continue to monitor the situation and adjust our operations accordingly.”
Flydubai permanently pulled out of Kiev’s main airport, Boryspil, in March, with the airline choosing to focus on Zhulyany, the spokesperson stated.
Sharjah’s Air Arabia has already suspended flights to Donetsk and cut frequencies to Kiev and Odessa. Europe’s Wizz Air has temporarily suspended its Dubai-Kiev route.
“There are two issues in Ukraine as a result of the political unrest, the travel demand has been coming down very significantly and also the local currency got devalued by 50 to 60 per cent [against] the hard currencies,” said Jozsef Varadi, Wizz Air chief executive in Dubai, on Monday.
