New flydubai route connects travellers to one of Europe’s cultural capitals
Dubai airline boosts Romania flights with Iași route and Bucharest expansion
DUBAI – Dubai-based carrier flydubai has added Iași to its network, becoming the first UAE airline to offer direct services to the city in northeastern Romania.
The twice-weekly flights, operating on Tuesdays and Fridays, make Iași the second Romanian destination in flydubai’s schedule after Bucharest. With this addition, the carrier is strengthening its presence in Eastern Europe while providing more travel opportunities for passengers across the region.
The inaugural flight from Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 2 landed at Iași International Airport (IAS) to a traditional water cannon salute, where officials, media representatives and airport staff gathered to welcome the new route. The move highlights flydubai’s growing interest in Romania, a country where the airline has operated since 2012.
Expanding Romanian network
flydubai has steadily grown its footprint in Romania over the past decade. Passenger traffic on the Bucharest route has increased by an average of 16 per cent annually, reflecting strong demand for travel between the UAE, Romania and onward destinations. The airline, which began operations to Bucharest with three flights a week, will increase this service to a triple daily schedule by the end of October. This will bring the total number of weekly flights between Dubai and Romania to 21.
Jeyhun Efendi, Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, said the expansion underlines the popularity of Romania as both a cultural and business destination. “By introducing Iași as our second destination in Romania, alongside our planned increase in flights to Bucharest, we are confident these enhancements will offer our customers greater convenience and more opportunities to experience the country’s culture and business opportunities,” he said at the launch.
Romania’s cultural capital
For Iași, the arrival of flydubai marks a milestone in its development as a regional air hub. Romeo Vatră, General Manager of Iași Airport, said the new route opens direct access from the Moldova region of Romania to the UAE. “The launch of flydubai’s direct flights between Iași and Dubai marks a significant milestone for our airport, offering passengers a wider range of travel options and strengthening Iași Airport’s role as an international gateway for the entire region,” he stated.
Often referred to as Romania’s cultural capital, Iași is home to iconic landmarks that attract travellers year-round. These include the Palace of Culture, a vast building that houses four museums; the Metropolitan Cathedral, a landmark of Italian Renaissance design; and the Vasile Alecsandri National Theatre, the oldest theatre in Romania.
Broader European reach
The addition of Iași follows the recent launch of services to Chișinău in Moldova on 17 September. flydubai’s European expansion continues later this year with new routes to Vilnius in Lithuania and Riga in Latvia, adding further connectivity options for travellers seeking to explore emerging European destinations.
Emirates will codeshare on the Iași route, giving passengers additional connectivity via Dubai’s global hub. Return Business Class fares from Dubai to Iași start at Dh8,000, while Economy Class Lite fares are available from Dh1,600. For flights originating in Iași, return Business Class fares begin at €2,000 and Economy Class Lite fares at €380.
Flights can be booked through flydubai’s website, mobile app, UAE Contact Centre, flydubai travel shops or partner agencies.