flydubai Dubai’s first low cost airline, has doubled its flights between the UAE and Bangladesh with the start of a new service to the country’s capital, Dhaka.

Flight FZ583 from Dubai touched down on schedule at Shahjalal International Airport at 2015hrs on Monday, where a welcoming committee of government and industry officials received a delegation of senior flydubai executives.

flybe entered Bangladesh in January with a four-times-a-week service to the port city of Chittagong.

The inauguration of flights to Dhaka, flydubai’s 32nd destination, doubles this tally, further strengthening trade and tourism ties between the UAE and an important emerging economy in South Asia.

flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said: “The industry and entrepreneurship of the Bangladeshi people have contributed to the growth and success of the UAE in recent years, and it is gratifying to see ties between our two countries grow even closer. Our new service to Dhaka will build on the success of our popular service to Chittagong and open up more promising business opportunities for both countries.”

More than half a million Bangladeshi expatriates live and work in the UAE and send nearly US$2 billion each year in remittances to their home country.

Signifying the ever closer relationship between the two countries, Prime Minister Shaikh Hasina was a keynote speaker at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi last month.

The prime minister signed two strategic trade accords with the UAE and was accompanied by a 30-member delegation from the Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the first time a trade delegation of this size from Bangladesh has visited the country.

HE Ghulam Muhammed Quader, Honourable Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism in Bangladesh, said: “I am delighted to welcome flydubai’s first flight to Dhaka. I am confident these flights will help to increase the opportunities for trade and commerce between the two nations. I wish the operation of flydubai between Dhaka and the UAE great success.”

The flydubai service from Dubai to Dhaka will operate four times a week. Flight FZ583 will leave Dubai at 1340hrs and arrive in Bangladesh at 2015hrs local time. The return flight FZ584 leaves Dhaka at 2115hrs, landing in Dubai at 0100hrs.

A one-way fare to Dhaka from Dubai starts from AED460, including one piece of hand luggage weighing up to 7kg and one small laptop bag or hand bag. Checked baggage starts at AED50 for 20kgs. A seat with extra legroom costs AED100. Flights from Dhaka to Dubai start at USD 200.

Flights between Dubai and Dhaka can be purchased from flydubai’s website (www.flydubai.com), its call centre (+9714 301 0800) and through travel partners.